Israel got slammed.
Among the secret U.S. diplomatic cables released recently by WikiLeaks are several from Moscow, Tel Aviv, and other capitals expressing concern over the rising influence of the Russian and Israeli mafias around the world. By Alex Newman
US Cables: Russian, Israeli Mafias Gaining Power, Infiltrating Governments
Alex Newman | The New American
08 December 2010
And some of those Russian mobsters, it turns out, have close ties to Israel. "Many Russian oligarchs of Jewish origin and Jewish members of organized crime groups have received Israeli citizenship, or at least maintain residences in the country,"
wrote the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv in a separate cable. According to sources cited in the document, the Russian mafia has “laundered as much as USD 10 billion through Israeli holdings."
Other American cables from Israel highlight the growing problem of organized crime in that nation as well. In a message sent from the embassy in Tel Aviv entitled "
Israel, A Promised Land for Organized Crime?", U.S. diplomats explain the increasing influence and reach of the Israeli mafia — even in America. “Organized crime (OC) has longstanding roots in Israel, but in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the reach and impact of OC networks," noted the cable, signed by the U.S. ambassador there. "Given the volume of travel and trade between the United States and Israel, it is not surprising that Israeli OC has also gained a foothold in America."
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