Five years after the Law on the Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Services took effect in Israel, a recent report by the Knesset’s Research and Information Center raises fundamental questions regarding the effectiveness of government policy and governance in this area. The law, which adopted the Nordic model, placed criminal liability on the consumer with the aim of combating the phenomenon, while promising massive investment in rehabilitation, education, and treatment frameworks.
However, the report's findings, based on police data from 2021 to 2025, present a complex picture. According to the data, approximately 6,400 fines were issued for the consumption of prostitution during this period. Yet, an analysis of trends reveals that after the first year of enforcement, there was a gradual decline in the number of fines starting from the first quarter of 2022. Furthermore, the report emphasizes that enforcement is not distributed in a balanced, nationwide manner; the vast majority of fines were issued in the Tel Aviv and Central districts, while only a few dozen were recorded outside these areas.
The issue of enforcement becomes more complex in the absence of data indicating a decrease in the extent of the phenomenon itself. While national surveys previously estimated the scope of consumption at tens of thousands of clients per week, there is no public evidence pointing to a significant reduction in the phenomenon in recent years. This situation raises concerns among those involved in the field regarding the erosion of deterrence and the decline of police enforcement.
In parallel with enforcement, the law relies on a therapeutic and rehabilitative pillar. Data in the report shows that the alternative track to a fine, through which offenders can participate in educational workshops, is almost never used. During the five years since the legislation, only 177 applications were recorded in this track, a figure indicating a gap in the implementation of the associated social policy. The report also highlights ongoing difficulties in the monitoring and reporting mechanisms established by the law. A lack of full reporting for 2024 and partial reporting for 2025 prevent the Knesset and the public from obtaining a full picture of the situation on the ground.
The report's author, Yair Avidan, emphasizes that the fight against prostitution requires more than a criminal ban; it requires a root-level approach to problems such as untreated sexual trauma, addictions, poverty, and psychological distress. The main conclusion from the data is that renewed government action is needed for the full implementation of the original plans, with an emphasis on transparent data collection, increased investment in welfare and health, and the establishment of unified information systems between various government ministries. Without these steps, there is a danger that the fight will remain only at a declarative level.