Organized crime feud in Israel prompts security warning from US Embassy

Americans in Israel are accustomed to receiving alerts from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem about missile attacks, heightened terrorism risks and other security threats.

This week, however, the Embassy issued a rather unusual warning: they could be at heightened risk of being caught up in a violent feud between two organized crime families.

The alert stems from an escalating conflict between the Mosli and Jarushi crime organizations, whose battle has spilled into public spaces with grenade attacks targeting private homes, businesses and vehicles.

While the violence has largely been concentrated in Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Herzliya, the Embassy urged U.S. citizens to remain vigilant in those areas, particularly during the evening and overnight hours.

The feud has included grenade attacks on the private homes of criminal syndicate leaders and businesses owned by rival groups, notably including branches of the popular Japanika sushi restaurant.

“Reported attacks have included the throwing of hand grenades or stun grenades at private residences, vehicles or businesses, often by an assailant riding a motorcycle,” the notice said, adding that the Israel Police have actively addressed the problem by arresting suspected perpetrators and senior crime family members who are believed to have ordered the attacks.

A police representative recently described the problem as very serious, saying that the crime families “have resources, power and capability,” adding that “These are not isolated or minor incidents. They range from arson to grenade attacks and gunfire at different addresses. This is not about one specific address, but incidents across the country. We are on high alert because of these events.”

The Embassy also advised American citizens to avoid areas where police have blocked access or established a visible security presence, cooperate with law enforcement and report suspicious activity immediately. It further recommended reviewing personal security plans, staying in close contact with relatives and friends, and ensuring travel documents remain current and readily available should a rapid departure from the country become necessary.

Organized crime has plagued Israeli society for decades, although street crime has historically remained relatively rare and incidents of ordinary citizens becoming victims of serious violence have been uncommon.

That has begun to change in recent years as law enforcement agencies have reported a sharp increase in illegal weapons and the expansion of criminal syndicates, particularly in extortion.

Criminal activity has been especially severe in Israel's Arab sector, where murder and domestic violence rates have remained disproportionately high. At the same time, nonviolent crime has increased across the country, leading many Israelis to view it as an unfortunate part of daily life.

“In Israel, you pay taxes to the government and you also pay taxes to the gangsters,” said Yossi A., who manages a small pizza restaurant in southern Tel Aviv.

While he said he does not blame the police, arguing they “don’t get paid very much and don’t have very good equipment” to tackle the problem, he believes criminal organizations have increasingly stepped into the vacuum.

“The gangsters are doing what they do for themselves, but the truth is that they also provide some services that the government doesn’t, including law and order, ironically enough,” he said. “It’s not the way it’s supposed to be, but little people like you and me just have to deal with it. Most of the time Israel is a great place to live, except when it’s not.”