Financial Crime World

Financial Crime Cases and Investations in Israel

Key Statistics from the Ministry of Justice Report (2021)

  • Money laundering cases linked to organized criminal groups: 19%
  • Terrorism financing cases: 14.6%
  • Documented criminal activity from international criminal organizations: 17.8%

Significance of Financial Intelligence

Justice Minister Gidon Sa’ar:

  • Money laundering and financial crime pose serious social consequences
  • Criminals employ advanced technologies and techniques
  • Prioritizing high-quality financial intelligence is essential

Case Studies

Extortion Ring

  • Run by a security firm
  • Extorted contractors and large construction firms
  • No guards deployed, funds laundered through subsidiary companies
  • Eventual dismantling of the criminal organization

Organized Crime in Israel: Disproportionately Affecting Arab Community

  • Nearly 20% of the population
  • 128 criminal-related deaths in 2021
  • 65 fatalities by August 2022
  • Importance of addressing crime and violence

Arab Community: Impact of Negligence and Perpetuation of the Problem

  • Decades of disregard from Israeli policy-makers
  • Pervasive poverty, unemployment, and criminality levels
  • Contribution to the current state of affairs
  • Fueling a rapid increase in criminality and violence

Focus on Jewish Criminal Organizations

The ‘Itzik’ Abergil Case

  • Leader of a Jewish criminal organization
  • Sentenced to three life sentences for bystander deaths during hit attempt
  • Ruled Tel Aviv’s criminal underworld for years

To summarize, the Israel Ministry of Justice reported a concerning increase in financial crime cases in 2021, with money laundering, terrorism financing, and extortion schemes dominating the scene. The report illustrated the significance of robust financial intelligence in disrupting these illicit activities. The Arab community, which endured disproportionately high levels of criminal violence, was singled out as particularly vulnerable. While the government acknowledged the issue, an Israeli NGO, the Aman Center, highlighted the years of neglect and underscored the importance of addressing underlying socioeconomic problems in order to stem the tide of organized crime. In addition, the ‘Itzik’ Abergil case brought attention to the pervasive influence of Jewish criminal organizations.