Israel’s security services, which have spent the last three years trying to keep the lid on the Palestinian intifada, have been ordered to tackle an increasingly ruthless mafia with the same vigour. Since July, no less than eight Israelis whose only crime was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, have been killed while dozens of others have been wounded in mafia-related attacks. Faced with a wave of unprecedented criminality, Interior Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi warned Sunday that Israel was confronted by significant “strategic threat”. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered police to tackle the murderous mafia violence with the same determination employed in the battle against Palestinian militants conducting deadly anti-Israeli attacks. Full Story