Newly appointed Tourism Minister, retired police Major-General Yitzhak Aharonovitch, announced Thursday that he was in favor of opening legal casinos in Israel
and will promote the subject.
He said that as a former law enforcement agent he was well aware of the troubles that could arise from gambling. However, he said that legal gambling also had its benefits.
"A casino could boost tourism, provide employment and help the local economy," he detailed.
He was not oblivious to the fact that a casino could lead to crime, but does not regard it as cause for concern: "If we take everything into account we can find the way to run a casino without bringing about negative affects."
Regarding today's status he said, "We all saw how many Israelis went to gamble in the casinos in Jericho and the off-shore casinos in Eilat. For years, scores of Israelis have been going abroad to gamble. We are better off keeping all that gambling money at home, in Israel."
According to various publications, Israelis spend hundreds of millions of dollars on illegal gambling in Israel and at casinos around the world.
Aharonovitch retired from the police force in 2004 and joined political party Israel Our Home in 2006. Party chairman Avigdor Lieberman decided to appoint him tourism minister after Esterina Tartman's degree fiasco
ruled her out for the position.
Israel police do not have an official stand on legal casinos although the issue has been discussed. At a meeting on the topic, the Investigations and Intelligence Department determined that establishing a casino would be a positive move; a legal establishment would eliminate illegal gambling and reduce the violence in the 'business,' but strict supervision was required.
Aharonovitch has also suggested that the authorities alleviate the difficult process for Russian tourist to receive a visa to Israel.
"Opening the borders might result in one or two oligarchs or call girls entering Israel. But Israel has only 80,000 Russian tourists a year, while our neighboring countries have millions," he explained.
He also proposed to put up internet cameras at leading tourist attractions so that people from all over the world could get a real picture of Israel.
"Webcams, broadcasting Tel Aviv's night life, Masada, Christian sites and so on, would provide a great service to Israel," he said.
Itzik Saban contributed to the report.
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