Introduction

In this chapter, a short history of Israeli organized crime is discussed, from the Tanakh stories to our days. Following political and socioeconomic events in Israel chronologically is an important base for explaining organized crime in different periods, up until the present time. The aim of this book is to analyze the dynamics inside Israel’s underworld, its criminal activities, and the social response from authorities and law enforcement to the growing power of Jewish and Arab organized crime. Cultural criminological approach and methodology used in this study are explained in detail.