Israeli mafia boss Yanis Yushvaev was shot dead in public at point-blank range near Caesarea.
Yanis Yushvaev, a 40-year-old head of a crime group associated with Israel's Jewish Caucasus community, was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range as he left a petrol station near Caesarea. The gunman turned and fired as Yushvaev, considered one of the country's most dangerous criminals, walked down a flight of stairs. This killing highlights a growing organized crime crisis in Israel, where murders have increased by 109 per cent since 2022. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has faced criticism for the rise in crime, with some suggesting he has focused too much on the West Bank. However, Ben-Gvir responded that the murders of both Arabs and Jews must be prevented. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared an 'all-out war' against organized crime, tasking the Shin Bet and the military to strengthen intelligence and operational technology. Despite these efforts, experts like Asher Ben Artzi, the former head of Interpol in Israel, suggest that the police currently lack the power and influence to fight organized crime efficiently.