Arrest of Eyal Nagar Reshapes Southern Israel's Crime Landscape Amidst Escalating Feuds
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The arrest of Eyal Nagar, a major crime figure in southern Israel, has created a power vacuum, leading to new turf wars and escalating feuds between rival gangs. Ongoing conflicts include those between Matan Arbiv and Adam Daps, and Raziel Revach and Shalom Domrani, which have involved violence and explosives. Law enforcement is also investigating alleged ties between criminal elements, including the Bnimu brothers, and municipal officials in Kiryat Gat. The police are concerned that these power struggles and unresolved disputes will result in further violence.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Eyal Nagar's arrest has destabilized the southern Israeli crime scene, creating a vacuum and sparking new power struggles.
- Ongoing violent feuds persist between prominent crime figures Matan Arbiv and Adam Daps, and Raziel Revach and Shalom Domrani.
- Explosives and gunfire have been used in disputes, including an incident targeting a home linked to Adam Daps' family.
- The Bnimu brothers are reportedly involved in loan sharking and alleged ties to municipal officials in Kiryat Gat.
- Shalom Domrani remains influential, focusing on economic sectors like construction and excavation in Ashdod.
- Police fear that unresolved conflicts and the power vacuum will lead to further violence in the region.
The arrest of Eyal Nagar, a significant figure in the Ashdod and Ashkelon underworld, has created a power vacuum in the Lachish region, sparking new turf wars. While Nagar's associates continue to operate, other criminals are seeking to expand their influence. This vacuum coincides with ongoing violent conflicts between prominent crime figures, including the feuds between Matan Arbiv and Adam Daps, and Raziel Revach and Shalom Domrani. These disputes have already led to the use of explosives and gunfire targeting vehicles and homes.
Law enforcement officials are closely monitoring the evolving crime map in the Lachish area, which encompasses Ashdod, Ashkelon, Kiryat Gat, and Kiryat Malachi. The region faces activity from local and external criminal elements. One major case handled by the Lachish Central Police District (Yamar) involved alleged criminal takeover of delivery services in Ashdod and Kiryat Gat, characterized by threats and extortion of delivery personnel and business owners. Nagar and his partner were indicted in this case, which relied heavily on undercover agents.
The ongoing conflict between Matan Arbiv and Adam Daps, which has spanned several years and multiple police districts, is a primary concern. Recent social media videos showed individuals identified with Arbiv allegedly searching for Daps in Ashdod and vandalizing a gambling den linked to him. Despite arrests following this incident, suspects were released by the court, drawing criticism from law enforcement who highlight the escalating danger and provocation. A separate serious incident involved an explosive device targeting a home connected to Daps' family in Kiryat Malachi, injuring two women.
Another area of concern is Kiryat Gat, where the Bnimu brothers, Shay and Michael, are reportedly involved in loan sharking and other financial activities, alongside their alleged involvement in the delivery sector. Sources suggest these criminal elements have cultivated ties with local municipal officials, potentially stemming from the period of local elections. Tensions have reportedly arisen from these relationships, with a past incident involving an explosive device targeting the municipality's director-general underscoring the risks to local government figures.
Shalom Domrani remains an influential figure in the southern crime world, though his activity within Ashdod is reportedly more focused on economic sectors like sand, excavation, and construction sites, sometimes in partnership with other groups. Law enforcement is concerned that the power struggles over income sources and unresolved personal disputes will lead to further violence. The challenge for the police extends beyond arrests and indictments to preventing the rise of new power centers and protecting residents and businesses from threats and extortion.