Police: Stay away from mobsters' cafes

Officers arrive at Netanya eateries owned by Abutbul and Shirazi, tell diners that they are risking lives.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
NOT francois abutbul 224.88 (photo credit: Channel 10)
NOT francois abutbul 224.88
(photo credit: Channel 10)
Police on Monday warned diners at two Netanya restaurants owned by alleged mobsters that they were endangering their lives by eating there. Officers visited the Beit Haikar restaurant, owned by François Abutbul, and Gehalim, which belongs to Rico Shirazi. On Sunday, the Kfar Saba Magistrate's Court accepted the petition of Abutbul's attorneys and issued an injunction against a police decision to close five of Abutbul's businesses until a further court hearing. François Abutbul is the son of crime boss Felix Abutbul, who was gunned down outside a Prague casino in 2002. François' uncle, Charlie Abutbul, was seriously wounded in an attempted mob hit near one of the families' restaurants in Netanya last week. Meanwhile, the day after a verbal confrontation with Abutbul at a Netanya police station, Netanya Mayor Miriam Feierberg said she did not fear for her life. "I was summoned for a meeting with the commander of the district, the commander of the police station, and when I arrived, to my surprise, I saw a bunch of media. I then noticed François, sitting calmly with his mother. They had something to say and got a response," she added during an interview with Army Radio Monday morning. Feierberg went on to say it was not her job to crack down on the alleged crime family - it was the role of the government and police. Sunday's confrontation came after the Netanya mayor, speaking to reporters from Channel 10, commented on the increased media coverage given to the town due to the recent violence between alleged mob families. "Maybe it's because François is sexier," she said, looking over at Abutbul, who was sitting nearby. Abutbul then interjected, accusing the mayor of stabbing him in the back. "Who's stabbing who?" Feierberg asked. "You're stabbing me," Abutbul responded. "No. You're stabbing Netanya," the mayor retorted, before walking away. Referring to the police decision to close his businesses, Abutbul said, "Police are trying to force me into being a criminal by closing down my legitimate businesses." The reason for François's detention Sunday was unclear.