Head of Al-Batuf Council arrested in northern anti-protection-racket operation; detention extended by seven days

In depth

Ahed Rahal (55), head of the Al-Batuf regional council, was arrested as part of Operation "Shomrei HaTzel" against protection-money extortion in the north. The operation came at the end of a covert investigation lasting about ten months, on suspicion of running a systematic scheme of collecting protection money from contractors. Some 50 suspects were arrested in 15 extortion cases.

Rahal, who served as a police officer and was awarded the police's Medal of Distinction, is suspected of involvement in a case in which his son was also arrested. Police suspect that he and his son set up two front companies to which extortion money was transferred. Rahal is also chairman of a forum of Bedouin local authority heads in the north.

The court extended his detention by seven days, until November 15. Rahal denies the suspicions against him and said: "I did not threaten anyone".