Crime wave costs every Israeli family £1,800 a year, study warns

A new study by two Israeli governance watchdogs has calculated the hidden cost of crime affecting every household in the country, revealing that citizens are effectively paying a 23 billion shekel (£5.2bn) annual ‘crime tax’ through inflated prices and insurance costs. The research, published by organisations focused on improving accountability in Israel, shows how criminal extortion networks have become embedded in the economy, with their costs passed directly to consumers. Contractors and farmers paying protection money to criminal gangs pass these costs on to the public through higher food prices and construction expenses. Additionally, motor insurance premiums have surged by 56 per cent over the past two years, largely attributed to increased vehicle theft and organised crime activity. When divided across Israel’s population, the study calculates that the average family pays approximately 8,000 shekels (roughly £1,800) annually to cover crime-related costs, whether through direct protection payments or indirect price increases. The findings underscore how organised crime has infiltrated legitimate sectors of the Israeli economy, with ordinary citizens bearing the financial burden of criminal networks operating with relative impunity.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.