“Yediot Ahronot”: Rubinstein opposes casinos

Attorney General Elaykim Rubinstein: Israel needs more giggles, not more gambling.

Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” reports that Attorney General Elaykim Rubinstein opposes establishing casinos in Israel.

Rubinstein told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday that a decision to establish casinos in Israel would be illegal and immoral.

“In my opinion, casinos are an opening to crime, the destruction of the family, and moral turpitude,” wrote Rubinstein. He added that the claims that Israel already has illegal gambling do not legitimize the establishment of casinos.

Rubinstein noted that the establishment of casinos elsewhere in the world led to addiction and criminal behavior, including extortion, threats, drug abuse, money laundering, and power struggles between criminal gangs. “This is not wild speculation - scores of families are evidence of it,” he wrote.

Rubinstein said existing law did not permit gambling, and if the government wanted to establish casinos it would have to change the law. He said the Supreme Court had already ruled that casinos are dangerous for the country and society. Rubinstein, who is well-known for his healthy sense of humor, concluded, “Israel needs more giggles, not more gambling.”

Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on June 17, 2003

Twitter Facebook Linkedin RSS Newsletters גלובס Israel Business Conference 2018