Israel could see major legal and financial action against tobacco companies following the recent expansion of Article 19 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which includes calling on governments to file civil lawsuits to recover health costs caused by smoking. Attorney Amos Hozner told Arutz Sheva that in Israel, such lawsuits could generate NIS 40 billion ($12.4 billion) or more, given smoking prevalence over 20% and high public health costs. The provision encourages government authorities to pursue civil and administrative remedies against tobacco companies.
Hozner pointed to high smoking rates among young people in Israel’s haredi community, with up to 54% of yeshiva students and 80% of secondary school students having tried smoking, and 56% of 17- to 24-year-olds smoking regularly.