Jerusalem, 20 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An alleged extortionist in Baqa al-Gharbiyye near the “Green Line” apologized to a local business owner and pledged not to approach his family after a 10-day protest against protection demands, Israeli media reported Sunday.
The dispute began after unidentified gunmen fired a burst of shots at Habib supermarket, owned by Issa Shafik Abu-Mukh, following his refusal to pay hundreds of thousands of shekels in protection money.
In response, members of the Abu-Mukh family stopped working and gathered daily outside the business to protest the demands. Hundreds of relatives participated in the demonstrations, while family members maintained a 24-hour vigilance at the site.
The family said they refused to pay even one shekel and would not surrender to threats. They said the protest ultimately led those demanding protection money to apologize and promise to stay away.