Israel Police spokesman for the chareidi tzibur, Shabtai Gerverchik told Kol Berama Radio host Noam Zeigman on Tuesday morning 22 Nissan that persons arrested in the predawn raid were taken into custody in connection with alleged extortion, efforts to get large companies in Israel to advertise in the Peleg-affiliated HaPeles Newspaper. He stresses that despite accusation that some of the arrests are connected to “The democratic right to protest against the IDF draft”, this is simply not so, emphasizing all the arrests are connected to the alleged extortion and not the recent protests held around Israel.

He did not indicate if additional arrests are expected, but did explain the suspects would be questioned throughout the course of the day to determine who would be arraigned and remanded and who would be released with restrictions.

He added the raids in cities around Israel during the predawn hours were the result of an undercover investigation that was ongoing for a period of time and the decision was made to make the arrests and move to the next phase of the investigation by questioning suspects.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)