Israel: Police and/or state protection available to individuals targeted by persons involved in Russian- and/or Ukrainian-organized crime groups (1998)

There are several reports of Israeli police attention to the activities of persons believed to be involved with Russian organized crime. In May 1996 Komsomolskaya Pravda referred to the creation of an International Crime Office within the Israeli police force whose "main efforts will be directed against the 'Russian mafia' (15 May 1996), while Moscow News reported on 3 July 1997 on the creation of a "Russian section" within the crime control department. Moscow News also reported that the police were investigating several individuals on their alleged involvement with Russian organized crime (ibid.). Also reported was an Israeli police request to the Interior Ministry to expel about 30 persons suspected of involvement with Russian organized crime (ibid.; AFP 8 Sept. 1996). In March 1998, Israeli police were reported to have about 30 persons under surveillance for suspicion of involvement with organized crime (AP 20 Mar. 1998). In October 1998 Israeli police stated that several "intermediate" Russian crime rings are operating in Israel and that this "intermediate tier encompasses dozens of violent and aggressive gangs as well as low-key ones" (Middle East News Items 8 Oct. 1998). In November 1998, an Israeli government employee, Yudmila Kleinman, was arrested for trying to sell secret files to a member of Russian organized crime after "authorities were tipped off by a police officer whom Kleinman confided in" (Chicago Tribune 9 Nov. 1998).

In March 1998 Gregory Lerner, "a Russian immigrant with reputed ties to organized crime," who is also known as Zvi Ben-Ari, accepted a plea bargain on charges of fraud and bribery, whereby he will serve a term of between five and seven years and pay a fine of $5 million (AP 20 Mar. 1998). He had previously been charged and released in Switzerland in 1991 on "request of the Russian police, on suspicion of extortion" and was believed to be an important member of the Russian "mafia" (The Jerusalem Post 12 Feb. 1998; Xinhua 10 June 1997). In June 1997, Israeli police were also reported to be interested in interviewing politicians, including cabinet members, in relation to suspicions of connections to Russian organized crime (ibid.; The Daily Telegraph 13 June 1997). The Daily Telegraph also reported that Trade Minister Natan Sharansky had admitted that he received funds from Ben-Ari "in 1994 for a charity helping Russian immigrants" (7 June 1997). In a related instance, The Jerusalem Post reported the decision of "the Interior Ministry's decision to cancel Russian businessman Anton Malevsky's passport and citizenship. The High Court approved these moves in January [1998]. Police suspect Malevsky is involved with the 'Russian mafia'" (12 Feb. 1998).

Different sources have reported on the Israeli police force's investigations of organized crime. Moscow News stated "Israel is not the choicest location for any mafia. The country is small, and it is difficult to suppress outrage at gross injustices. All murders are thoroughly investigated and the criminals are almost always found" (3 July 1997). AP reported on 3 April 1997 a police announcement that "the international crimes unit will be increased from 20 to 100 officers, adding that 'its main concern will be the Russian mafia'." In late December 1998, an Alberta Treasury Branches security manager, speaking in reference to an alleged bribery scandal, referred to Israel's record in investigating financial crimes: "the Russian mafia, have discovered Israel as a money-laundering country.... But in Israel if there is a suspicion of a criminal offence, action will be taken" (The Calgary Sun 20 Dec. 1998). In a 28 January 1999 telephone interview the Staff Attorney of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) stated that, "as a general rule" if people complain to the police their concerns are investigated. She added that police also have a duty to investigate when they believe there has been a crime, even though they have received no direct complaint.

For general information on Israel's political, legal, and criminal justice systems please see the attached pages from a document of the World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems of the U.S. Department of Justice (13 Feb. 1997).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 8 September 1996. "Police Call for 35 Alleged Mafia Bosses to be Expelled." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 20 March 1998. Gwen Ackerman. "Report: Plea-Bargain in What Was To Be Israel's First Mafia Trial." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 April 1997. "Israeli Police Set Up Unit to Fight Russian Mafia." (NEXIS)

Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Jerusalem. 28 January 1999. Telephone interview with the Staff Attorney.

The Calgary Sun. 20 December 1998. Linda Slobodian. "Just Who Is John Doe? ATB Controversy." (NEXIS)

Chicago Tribune. 9 November 1998. "Israeli Accused of Trying to Sell Secrets to Mob." (NEXIS)

The Daily Telegraph. 13 June 1997. Anton La Guardia. "MPs to Face Inquiry Over Mafia Fears." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 June 1997. Anton La Guardia. "Knesset Ambition of Russian 'Godfather'." (NEXIS)

The Jerusalem Post. 12 February 1998. Galit Lipkis Beck. "Sheftel: State Withheld Evidence in Ben-Ari Case." (NEXIS)

Komsomolskaya Pravda [Moscow, in Russian]. 15 May 1996. Dmitriy Kulik. "Organized Crime Moves into Israel Noted." (FBIS-SOV-96-095-S 15 May 1996/WNC)

Middle East News Items. 8 October 1998. "Russian Mafia in Israel." (NEXIS)

Moscow News. 3 July 1997. Vladimir Polyak. "Is Israel the Hub of the Russian Mafia?" (NEXIS)

U.S. Department of Justice, Washington. 13 February 1997. Gloria Weisman. World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems, pp. 1-13. [Internet] [Accessed 3 Feb.. 1999]

Xinhua News Agency. 10 June 1997. "Israeli Politicians to be Probed for Connection With Mafia Case." (NEXIS)

Attachment

U.S. Department of Justice, Washington. 13 February 1997. Gloria Weisman. World Factbook of Criminal Justice Systems, pp. 1-13. [Internet] [Accessed 3 Feb. 1999]