Israel Convicts Mob Leader, 21 Others Amid Crackdown on Arab Crime
Prosecutors seek 24 years in jail for Odeh Kuthair, whose crime organization operates mostly in the northern city of Umm al-Fahm and in central Israel, according to police
The Tel Aviv District Court on Friday convicted Odeh Kuthair, the head of a major crime organization in the Arab community, and 21 others of charges including attempted murder, accessory to murder, and more.
The police consider Kuthair's organization as a branch of the Hariri crime family, operating mostly in Umm al-Fahm and central Israel. The family's main income comes from loan-sharking and police estimate that the Hariri family is responsible for a third of gray market loans in Israel.
According to the plea agreement, the prosecution will request Kuthair be sentenced to 24 years in jail and will seek to impose a 1.25 million shekel fine. The defense will request a sentence of no less than 18 years.
In 2017, Kuthair and his associates killed three people in separate circumstances, with all three victims being cases of mistaken identity.
According to the indictment, Kuthair and others confessed to assisting in the murder of Avichai Vaknin, who was shot to death in Bat Yam in 2017. They reportedly followed Vaknin on the day of the murder and supplied the weapon with which the murder was committed.
The charge sheet also states that Kuthair and the other defendants assisted in murdering Firas Nadi and Maria Ghanem, who were shot to death in the same year.
In addition, Kuthair and his men were indicted for the attempted murder of Talal Arrar, following a family dispute.
- With Shin Bet Help, Operation to Curb Crime in Israel's Arab Community Extended
- 'I Know the Students Are Afraid, but Closing Down the School Is No Solution'
- Israel’s Other Epidemic: Violence in Arab Community Threatens Entire Country
They reportedly kidnapped one of Arrar's friends and kept him until he agreed to lead them to the victim. Members of the organization then shot Arrar multiple times, critically wounding him. In this case, Kuthair was charged with kidnapping and attempted murder.
The other defendants have also been sentenced to jail time, spanning 17 to 20 years.
Click the alert icon to follow topics:
Comments
ICYMI
Yair Lapid Is the Most Israeli of All
El Al to Stop Flying to Toronto, Warsaw and Brussels
Roe v. Wade: The Supreme Court Leaves a Barely United States
How a Spanish Beach Town Became a Haven for Nazis
What's Ayelet Shaked's Next Move?
