Israeli Government Approves Tens of Millions in Compensation for Extortion Victims

The Israeli government has approved a compensation plan worth tens of millions of shekels for businesses affected by extortion, known locally as "protection money." The decision, revealed by ynet, follows a proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich aimed at supporting businesses that have suffered extortion-related damages and lack insurance coverage for such harm. The plan also seeks to encourage business owners to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

This compensation scheme will be implemented as a six-month pilot program, allocating 30 million shekels to a compensation fund managed by the Tax Authority. Prior to the government's approval, Smotrich met with Yariv Ben Ami, chairman of the "Enough" organization, which advocates against extortion. Smotrich stated, "Today we are passing a government decision that will provide a safety net for farmers and business owners who finally muster the courage to refuse paying protection money."