The increasing globalization of local customs is reshaping societies across the Middle East, with Israel at the forefront of these dynamic changes. Once-isolated behaviors and cultural practices, accelerated by migration, social media, and regional conflicts, are now spreading rapidly into new settings, sometimes carrying unanticipated health and security implications. A recent public outcry on Israeli social media over the spread of qat (Catha edulis) chewing, a practice with deep roots in Yemen and the Horn of Africa, serves as a case study in how swiftly regional trends can take hold—and the multifaceted challenges they present for Israeli authorities and civil society.
Qat, a leaf that contains cathinone—a powerful stimulant—has been used for centuries in social, religious, and work gatherings in Yemen and parts of Africa. Its use involves lengthy communal chewing sessions and is associated with alertness and euphoria. For immigrants from Yemen and related backgrounds, qat chewing holds nostalgic and cultural value, reflecting community cohesion even as they integrate into Israeli society. However, the broader introduction of qat into Israel has triggered concern among healthcare professionals and law enforcement. Israeli authorities classify qat as a controlled substance, citing international conventions and known health risks such as hypertension, psychosis, and addiction.
This trend has not gone unnoticed by Israeli officials. In recent years, multiple police operations have intercepted qat shipments along the Egyptian and Jordanian borders. According to the Israel Police, smuggling rings often employ routes and logistics that overlap with those used by terrorist groups, including Hamas, exposing the unsettling intersection of cultural import and national security threat. The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) has linked some proceeds from qat and other drug smuggling to the financing of terror cells in Gaza and beyond. These findings reinforce the Israeli government’s stance that even seemingly innocuous behaviors imported through migration or digital culture can serve, intentionally or not, broader threats to Israel’s safety and stability.
On the public health front, the Ministry of Health and clinical experts continue to warn of qat’s dangers. Dr. Miriam Levy, a toxicologist at Hadassah Medical Center, noted that qat use—especially among youth—can increase cardiovascular risks and exacerbate mental health disorders. These medical risks are amplified when qat’s spread is glamorized or trivialized by viral social media content, obscuring the substance’s addictive potential and impact on vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, cultural advocates from Yemenite-Israeli communities emphasize qat’s importance as a heritage symbol rather than a narcotic. Community leaders argue for nuanced policies that distinguish between criminalized drug abuse and the responsible observance of traditional practices. Nevertheless, Israeli law maintains a zero-tolerance approach to unsanctioned qat importation and sale, reflecting the state’s prioritization of public health and national security.
The challenge is compounded by the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. The October 7, 2023 massacre—when Hamas terrorists killed over 1,200 Israelis and abducted over 240 hostages in the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust—has left Israeli authorities even more vigilant against infiltration by Iranian-backed terror networks. Every potential new vector for financing or concealing terror operations, including the smuggling of qat for profit, is now the subject of heightened scrutiny. Law enforcement regularly coordinates surveillance operations with border police and regional partners to disrupt both drug and terror supply chains.
Parallel efforts in neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt similarly see qat circulation as a dual public health and security concern. However, Israel’s unique status as a magnet for migration—combined with its modern infrastructure, democratic institutions, and proximity to conflict zones—intensifies both exposure and capacity for response. Policy experts at Israel’s National Security Council, supported by Shin Bet and IDF intelligence, continue to refine early-detection efforts for risky subcultures, integrating digital monitoring with direct community outreach.
Underlying these visible measures is a broader contest over how to manage the intersection of cultural adaptation, globalized digital influence, and the imperative of self-defense. With every emerging trend or imported practice, Israeli officials must weigh the preservation of social cohesion and historical identity against the risks of health crises and exploitation by terror groups. Sociologists and policymakers alike warn that trivializing these issues risks undermining both democratic freedoms and existential security.
In this context, the story of qat is more than an oddity—it is emblematic of a world where borders are permeable not just to people but to ideas, substances, and subcultures. Israel finds itself contending with a wave of new challenges that transcend the old dichotomies of war and peace. Responses must be multidimensional, embracing robust law enforcement, public health campaigns, and culturally sensitive outreach to the diverse communities that make up the nation.
The lesson is both clear and urgent: what appears as a niche habit or humorous meme online often signals broader, more complex shifts in society. Israeli resilience, born from the experience of conflict and migration, demands vigilance not just on the battlefield but also in the spheres of public health, law, and communal life. As Israel continues its fight for survival against Iranian-backed terror networks and grows as a society enriched by its many heritages, careful stewardship of new cultural influences remains essential for securing the country’s democratic and moral future.
