Roni Alsheikh
Roni AlsheikhYonatan Sindel, Flash 90

Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh asked rabbis living in the haredi city of Modi'in Illit to tell their followers not to hire Arabs working in the surrounding villages and towns to fix their cars, Haaretz reported.

The reason for the request is that it was discovered that all the parts sold by the Arab car mechanics were stolen from cars around the country.

"Black commerce creates demand for crime," Alsheikh explained to reporters. "It's important that civilians understand the implications of choosing such a mechanic. Most cars in Israel which are stolen, were not stolen for the vehicles themselves, but for the parts. Choosing such a mechanic supports criminal activity."

Alsheikh also said he chose to address particular rabbis because their followers tend to search for cheaper prices than the Jewish mechanics offer.

"It's true that this is a population which needs their cars fixed cheaply, but it means that another crime cell in Israel is stealing a car for you," he emphasized.