Israel improves in human trafficking report

The U.S. State Department’s 2007 Human Trafficking Report noted “slight improvement” in Israel’s policies fighting involuntary servitude and human trafficking. The report labeled Israel a Tier 2 country, short of Tier 3, which would trigger sanctions. Previous reports had placed Israel on the Tier 2 “watch list,” the last step before Tier 3. The report said Israel is a destination for Eastern European women trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation and for low-skilled workers from Asia. While Israel has not fully complied with the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking, the report said, it is “making significant efforts to do so.” It noted the passage in October of an anti-trafficking law prohibiting all forms of human trafficking, involuntary servitude and slavery. A national plan to combat trafficking for forced labor was put in place and legal assistance was extended to victims. The State Department noted these improvements and Israel’s continued commitment to prosecuting human traffickers. However, the department criticized Israel for not providing adequate protection services for victims.