Israel's prostitution industry turnover NIS 5b a year

Knesset Parliamentary Inquiry Committee on the Trading in Women: 3,000-5,000 women have been smuggled into Israel and sold into prostitution at 300-400 brothels in recent years.

The report states that 3,000-5,000 women have been smuggled into Israel and sold into prostitution in recent years. The report's authors say that women are traded for $8,000-10,000 each.

The women are reportedly held in 300-400 brothels across the country, and work 14-18 hours a day, seven days a week. The women serve scores of clients, but keep only NIS 20 from the NIS 120 each client pays. The rest is handed over to their pimps.

A special survey commissioned by the committee found that the public does not consider trading in women to be a violation of human rights.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on March 23, 2005