Israeli Police Charge Rahat Residents with Extortion and Threats Against Business Rivals

The Israeli police have filed charges against Sami Abu Galbin (47) and his nephew Muhammad Abu Galbin (29), residents of Rahat, for extorting and threatening business competitors in the Beersheba area. The indictment reveals that Sami Abu Galbin operates a food supply business catering to foreign workers in the Gaza envelope and western Negev regions. He and Muhammad allegedly threatened a rival supplier and his family multiple times to prevent them from selling food and consumer products to foreign workers in these areas.

According to the indictment, Sami threatened the complainant, his son, and employees with bodily harm and property damage when they attempted to sell products in local settlements. On one occasion, Sami warned the son with violent threats, including breaking his car and causing serious injury. In another incident, Sami was seen trying to forcibly open locked car doors with a metal rod. The police also arrested four family members from Rahat who had been collecting protection money from factories in the nearby Idan HaNegev industrial zone.

Further charges include reckless driving by Sami, who endangered the complainant’s son and an employee by aggressively blocking their vehicle on the road. Muhammad also threatened the complainant over the phone in July, warning him not to enter a certain area or face a bomb threat to his car. When the complainant and his workers arrived at a settlement while in contact with police, Muhammad confronted them, warning them not to work there and saying, "It's not worth dealing with us if you don't want trouble."

These threats caused the complainant and his employees to avoid or delay visits to the area, fearing for their safety. The indictment charges Sami Abu Galbin with extortion by threats and reckless driving, and Muhammad Abu Galbin with extortion by threats.