ABSTRACT
Since the start of the new millennium, maritime robbery has become a common threat to commercial and passenger vessels in international shipping lanes. This new-old phenomenon that began in the 2000s is growing yearly, as well as the economic damage that it causes. At present, a third of the maritime-piracy events occur in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali littoral. This is a region through which a number of maritime trade routes pass between Asia and Europe. In 2008-2009 there were close to 250 reports of pirate attacks in the region. According to an unofficial estimate, in 82 cases the pirates succeeded in seizing the vessels and hauling them to unknown destinations. Thus far, there have been three reported attempts on Israeli vessels.
