There is a strong and independent judicial system in Israel. Recent years have seen an increased judicial activity within the Supreme Court, triggering considerable public debate and opposition from some religious groups.
Since 1985 Israel has slowly transformed from a centrally planned to a market economy. This change in policy was triggered by a downward spiral of devaluation and inflation, marked by an inflation of 400% in 1985. After the implementation of economic reform policies in the second half of the 1980s, the Israeli economy was characterized by a rapid growth in the early 1990s. Overall performance for 1990-1997 was 6.4% GDP growth rate. However, since 1996, the rate of growth slowed significantly and is currently estimated at below 1.5% for 1998/99
Israel is commonly described as an industrialized country, ranking number 22 on the UNDP Human Development Index.
Israel has a strong education system resulting in an adult literacy rate of 95%. Israel has the highest proportion of scientist and engineers per head of the population in the world, which is partly explained by the large number of academics immigrating from countries of the former Soviet Union
Overview of Drug Control Situation
Israel is party to the 1961, 1971 Drug Control Conventions. It has acceded to but not yet ratified the 1988 convention. However, no legislation is currently planned for the implementation of article 12 of the 1988 convention. Israel regularly complies with its reporting requirements under the treaties. In February 1998, the INCB has fielded a mission to the territories under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority and Israel to assess the situation with regard to the implementation of the international drug control treaties. The Government of Israel holds the view that, due to the mixed sovereignty in the Palestinian Autonomous Areas, the treaties are currently not applicable in these areas.
Trafficking in Israel mainly supplies the local market. Lebanon is frequently cited as a prime source in this respect, also for trafficking of cocaine from South America through family-based networks. However, these sources appear to reflect the situation in the early nineties. Recent reports point to an increasing trafficking of heroin in Jordan. Given the small market in Jordan, a significant amount of this heroin may be destined for Israel. Most synthetic drugs are are reported to be trafficked from Europe, mainly the Netherlands.
In the period between 1994 -1996, heroin seizures have decreased from 127 kg to 80.4kg. In the first ten months of 1998 alone, however 122.5kg of heroin were seized. Cocaine base seizures are declining after a peak of 73.3kg in 1996. Cannabis herb seizures have increased from 329kg in 1994 to 1.2 tons in 1998. 1997 saw a peak of 10.7 tons seizures of cannabis herb. Seizures of cannabis resin have sharply decreased from 3,047 kg in 1994 to only 12.2 kg in 1998. This development may also point to an increasing supply from cultivation areas in the Egyptian Sinai where cannabis is almost exclusively trafficked in the form of cannabis herb. LSD seizures peaked in 1996 with 16,660 units.
A significant increase has been reported for seizures of amphetamines, replacing MDMA for 1997/98. Overall seizure of the stimulants group, however, are declining after a peak in 1996. There appears to be only little trafficking of Fenethylline branching off from the huge transit trafficking in Jordan which supports the assumption that these drugs pass Jordan in direction of the Gulf countries.
Drug abuse is spread among all social strata in Israel. The main drugs of abuse are cannabis and heroin, heroin has become more prominent in the recent years. In 1996 reports, Israeli authorities reported a rise in the consumption of cocaine and a sharp increase in the use of LSD and amphetamines. In addition, the authorities are concerabout the widespread abuse of tranquilizers. The drug-related crimes are reported to represent 75% of the total crimes committed in Israel.
There is concern that developments in Israel may lead to a drug control situation similar to that in Western Europe and North America. A further reason for concern is the fact that the age of first use of illicit drugs is constantly falling. This is a particularly worrying development as the Israeli society has comparatively young age structure. Disproportionately large segments of the society are therefore in the age group most vulnerable to drug abuse. This may increase both the speed of spread and the absolute quantity of drug abuse in Israel.
The main entity for drug control in Israel is the Anti-Drug Authority (ADA) created in 1988. This inter-ministerial body reports directly to the office of the Prime Minister. The main purpose of ADA is the formulation of national policy, coordination between government departments and institutions, and initiating and developing services for preventive education, treatment and rehabilitation of addicts, law enforcement, community activities, development of human resources, research, and organizing volunteer work. ADA coordinates the activity of ministries with regard to drug control, (Health, Labor and Social Welfare, Police, Justice, Defense, Interior), and other bodies active in anti-drug efforts such as NGOs. In addition, the Knesset Committee on Drug Abuse plays an active coordinating role. In the past years, the ADA has focussed its efforts on demand reduction with groups at high-risk, particularly the youth.
Consequently, Israel has invested considerable resources in prevention, treatment and rehabilitation activities. These activities are carried out in cooperation with a range of NGOs and are financially supported by the government. They target all relevant groups of society, including minority groups. The Israeli Prisons Authority is undertaking a pilot project on treatment and rehabilitation in prisons. There is a methadone programme for the treatment of heroin addicts.
UNDCP has at present no ongoing technical cooperation projects in Israel. However, Israeli drug control authorities have cooperated with UNDCP in hosting study tours of delegations of countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and have provided expertise for training in law enforcement. Israeli authorities have excellent relations with the UNDCP Cairo Regional Office and have also been cooperative in facilitating the transport of UNDCP-financed drug control equipment through their territories to the areas under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority.
In 1995 Israel participated in a UNDCP organized technical consultation on sub-regional drug control, together with Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. Israel was also an active participant in the 1999 UNDCP Subregional Consultations on Drug Control in the Middle East and is one of the participating countries in the envisaged UNDCP Subregional Drug Control Programme in the Middle East (Track I).
The current slow progress of cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian Authorities on the practical implementation of the Oslo Process also affects drug control concerns. A customs agreement which is a prerequisite for effective Palestinian control measures under an ongoing UNDCP project is pending. In addition, the repeated closures of the Palestinian Autonomous Authorities has an adverse effect on the economic situation in these areas (see country briefing on the PPA). This development may lower barriers to resort to illicit income generating activities for Palestinians, such as trafficking.
Against the background of rising security concerns, however, drug control issues may at present have a comparatively low priority for the Israeli Government. On the other hand, there have been strong positive signs form the Israeli Mission and the delegation at the CND, as well as the Government in support of the recently established UNDCP Cairo Regional Office, which is the only office in the UN system covboth Israel and the Arab States. This also relates to the considerable efforts of the Cairo Regional Office in building trust and confidence including a successful visit by the UNDCP Representative to Israel, and his close contacts with the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
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