Israel criticised over bribery shortcomings

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has criticised Israel for shortcomings in detecting, investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery cases, “notably those involving the defence industry”. A OECD working group on bribery report, while recognising some improvements in Israel’s combating foreign bribery, concluded it “should raise sanctions significantly”. It added that Israel should better meet mutual legal assistance requests; oblige its military censor to report foreign bribery by Israeli companies; and clarify that tax rules expressly prohibit deducting bribes to foreign public officials.