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World’s Oldest Profession Alive and Doing Very Well in Israel

July 21, 1976
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The world’s oldest profession is flourishing in Israel where prostitutes can earn up to IL 1000 (about $130) a day, according to Hebrew University researcher Dr. Menahem Amir who gave a learned lecture on the subject on a radio economics program today. Street walkers with a strong work ethic accommodate 12-15 clients a day, Amir said. Higher class call girls take fewer clients but charge much more, he said.

Amir reported that according to police figures, there are 600-800 known prostitutes working in Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city. In Jerusalem, the second largest, only about 80 are known to police, and in the third largest city, Haifa, there are no more than 40 although Haifa is Israel’s main port visited by seamen from all over the world.

Israeli prostitutes might well be the envy of their sisters in other parts of the globe. Only 15-20 percent have pimps. Most of the girls keep all of their earnings for themselves, Amir said.

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