Northern Farmers Defy Protection Rackets in Unified Stand Against Extortion
Farmers in the northern moshav of Ramat Tzvi are fiercely resisting protection racket extortion demands. Backed by the Ad Kan organization, the community has united to reject threats and combat the rising wave of agricultural crime.
Extortion and protection rackets are rearing their ugly heads once again in northern Israel, but farmers in the moshav of Ramat Tzvi, located in the Yizreel Valley's Emek HaMaayanot, are refusing to let intimidation become a way of life. The arson attack on an agricultural vehicle at Kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar last week, alongside extortion demands targeting dairy farmers at Kibbutz Amiad, underscored the destructive potential behind these threats.
However, when extortionists approached dairy farmers in Ramat Tzvi with offers of protection that quickly turned out to be disguised shakedown demands, they met with resolute resistance. Rather than panicking, stammering, or attempting to buy time, the veteran farmers responded with civic courage: they refused to cooperate, confronted the callers with reality, hung up the phone, and decided to wage an open campaign on behalf of the entire community.
Born in a Dairy: We Will Not Pay
The first ordeal began with a phone call received by 65-year-id Itzik Abramovitz, a second-generation farmer whose parents established the family farm back in 1949. For Abramovitz, who dedicated his life to developing the site right after his military service and transforming it into a modern, robotic dairy, the direct threat targeted his entire life's work.
«When I answered, they said: 'Are you running the dairy? I want to offer you security.' I told him I didn't need it and that I already had security. He immediately grew angry and asked in shock: 'Who is securing you?!' He was surprised it wasn't him and that someone had apparently entered his territory, so I hung up the phone.»
Abramovitz made it clear that principle outweighs any financial cost, stating that paying protection money is simply not an option. He affirmed that even if he has to close down his business, they will not pay extortion money.
Similar determination was displayed by Pinhas Arbal, a 74-year-old dairy farmer and also a second-generation owner of a family dairy, who faced an identical approach. Just like Abramovitz, the extortionists tried to frame it as routine security services, but Arbal firmly rebuffed the attempt.
«They offered me guard services. I said we have enough systems and technologies and we have no need for that.»
When the caller tried to disguise his identity and claimed to live in Gedera, a quick check with the police revealed that the call originated from a nearby village. Even the fact that the threatening party was located just a short distance away did not shake Arbal's stance, as he emphasized that paying is not an option and that the entire moshav stands united.
An Entire Moshav Stands Up Against Extortion
The personal courage of Abramovitz and Arbal quickly transformed into a broad community-wide initiative, driven by the realization that surrendering at one point would bring down the entire moshav. Instead of waiting for damage to their farms or further sabotage attempts, residents of Ramat Tzvi decided to take proactive action.
Uzi Devlin, a resident of the moshav, took it upon himself to coordinate the struggle and contacted the leadership of the "Ad Kan" organization, led by founder Yariv Ben Ami and CEO Gidi Harari.
The joint organization established within the moshav has inscribed on its banner a unified and uncompromising front against the extortionists. Devlin stated that the community understood instantly that this was a protection demand and resolved that the entire moshav would launch a campaign, declaring that Ramat Tzvi will not fall and will not pay anyone.
Yariv Ben Ami, founder of Ad Kan, praised the residents' stand and highlighted its significance beyond the community's borders. He called on the Israeli public and government to wake up, stressing that no farmer or business owner can fight this phenomenon alone, and announced that thousands of volunteers are ready to provide immediate assistance to defend the moshav.
