Prominent Israeli rabbi connected to mobster

Haaretz reported:

Israeli crime boss Shalom Domrani and Rabbi Yoram Abergel were on Sunday ordered to remain in custody for eight and four days, respectively.

Domrani was arrested on Saturday night and Abergel earlier on Sunday, both in connection to the alleged extortion of Rabbi Ya’akov Yisrael Ifergan, known popularly as the "X-ray rabbi" due to his supposed diagnostic and healing abilities.

Both rabbis have large followings in the southern Israeli town of Netivot, where they are based, while Domrani is widely considered to be the head of a crime family operating mainly in the south.

The long-standing rivalry between the two rabbis escalated in the run-up to the October 22 local elections.

Followers of Abergel supported the reelection of Mayor Yehiel Zohar, who won, while Ifergan’s followers supported challenger Eyal Mesika.

The Israeli police, who conducted a weeks-long undercover investigation before the election, say Abergel exploited his ties with Domrani and his organization in order to influence the outcome of the election using threats and extortion.

Abergel as arrested shortly before he boarded a plane to China.

Domrani is also suspected of purposely damaging Bezek phone company equipment, disrupting elections and obstructing justice.