46.2% of Arab men smoke... twice the general rate in the occupied territories

SadaNews - Data released by the Israeli Ministry of Health today, Monday, shows that the smoking rate among adult men in the Arab community is 46.2%, the highest among various population groups, and is equivalent to twice the smoking rate of the general adult population.

This was revealed in the annual smoking report for 2025, which reviewed smoking rates in Israel and the measures the ministry intends to take to reduce the phenomenon. It indicated that 23.1% of the adult population smokes, the highest rate recorded in nearly two decades.

The report demonstrated that 48.5% of Arab citizens are exposed to secondhand smoke, compared to 28.9% among Jews, reflecting the extensive exposure to cigarette smoke within the Arab community. It also showed that smoking caused 12,386 deaths in Israel during 2022, including 894 deaths attributed to secondhand smoke.

Regarding youth, the report noted an increase in the use of electronic cigarettes among minors, as data for the first time showed that the percentage of those who tried electronic cigarettes has surpassed the percentage of those who tried traditional cigarettes.

According to the report, about 20% of students in Israel reported that they have tried electronic cigarettes, compared to 19% who tried regular cigarettes, while 17% of students said they used an electronic cigarette at least once in the last month.

As part of the announced measures, the Ministry of Health stated that starting from August 2026, tobacco companies will be required to add pictorial warnings alongside written warnings on various smoking products, similar to practices in many countries.

The ministry also indicated that it is working to enhance control measures and taxes on smoking and nicotine products, and to expand smoking cessation services through health funds and the national hotline dedicated to cessation assistance.

Israeli Health Minister Chaim Katz stated that "the data in the report compel us to continue working firmly to prevent children and youth from being exposed to smoking products and to enhance preventive, control, and awareness measures."

For his part, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, Moshe Bar Siman Tov, considered that the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes among youth and the decrease in the age of exposure to smoking and nicotine products "necessitate accelerating legislative steps," stating that delays harm the state's ability to protect public health.

Source: Arabs 48