Prostitution in Israel is legal, but organized prostitution in the form of brothels and pimping is prohibited. The main centre of prostitution in Israel is Tel Aviv. Prostitution has existed in Israel since Biblical times, and has been practiced by both women and men. People were not advised to become prostitutes or place their daughters in the trade, as it was viewed as "shameful profession". In the early 19th century, Jewish Women in Eastern Europe were upended by economic collapse.
Many of these women were forced or coerced into prostitution or the sex trade, as it was the only viable means of self-support. Brothels were owned by both Jews and Arabs. British soldiers added to the demand for prostitution in the s and s. Tel Aviv was considered to be the centre of the sex trade in the Middle East. Prostitution was legalized in Israel in under the Prostitution and Abomination Act , although homosexual prostitution was not legalized till However, in , indoor prostitution, but not street prostitution, was prohibited, and is controlled by the Israeli Criminal Law , Sections However, indoor prostitution has continued to thrive.
It was not perceived as a major problem till the s, Cnaan , and prostitution policy has been described as "benign neglect". A inquiry Ben-Eato recommended legalization, but this was not implemented. Cnaan In the s, as in other countries, trafficking in women became a political issue in women's movements in Israel, who engaged in political lobbying for legislative action. In , Israel passed a law that would allow the state to confiscate the profits of traffickers, but watchdog groups claim it is rarely enforced.
In , a ban on advertising was debated. In February , another draft bill received cabinet approval. In January , they reported that they had failed to agree on a method, but ultimately recommend "that if using prostitutes is deemed a criminal offense, they favor scaled criminalization". The accused will be allowed to contest the fine and go to trial if they so choose, but if convicted the fine will be increased up to NIS 75, On December 31, , the proposed bill was passed, criminalizing "sex clients", but not prostitutes.
A possible criminal case against sex buyers could carry a maximum penalty of NIS 75, The Justice Ministry may pursue alternatives to fines, such as "john schools". Despite the penal code, using the services of a prostitute carries widespread legitimacy in Israel, and social norms distinguish between prostitution and trafficking. Israel is a country of immigrants, including a large number of Russians, Ukrainians and Central Asians.
