Roni Barik, president of the Israel Builders Association, expressed shock at the murder of contractor Marwan Abu Shahin, who police suspect was killed for refusing to pay protection money. Barik called the incident a red line and urged the government to act decisively against organized crime in the construction sector.
Roni Barik, president of the Israel Builders Association, on Sunday expressed shock over the murder of contractor Marwan Abu Shahin, reportedly killed for refusing to pay protection money to organized crime figures. Police suspect the killing was linked to Shahin's refusal to pay what is known locally as 'protektzia' — extortion payments demanded by criminal organizations from construction contractors.
Barik described the killing as a crossing of a red line, and called the extortion phenomenon a strategic threat to the construction industry. He urged the government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward organized crime networks operating in the sector. The contractors association president took part in the family's mourning and offered condolences.
The killing is the latest in a series of violent incidents tied to criminal organizations in Israel's construction industry, which has seen increasing racketeering and violence in recent years. As The Zioneer has previously reported, the murder of civilian contractors working with the state has occasionally sparked public debate over their status and protection. No arrests have been reported in Shahin's murder as of Sunday evening.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake