Yossi Abadi, an Israeli lawyer, businessman, and social leader whose work has been recognized by Forbes for his social vision, has brought his latest perspective on crime and security to El Salvador with the presentation of “Zero Crime.”
Abadi, CEO of international lottery operator Tenlot Group, was recognized by Forbes for promoting a business model centered not only on economic opportunity but also on social development and community impact. His work has positioned him as a prominent Israeli business figure in Latin America, with projects across countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean.
His latest book, co-authored with Sharon Gal-Or, examines El Salvador’s transformation after decades in which organized crime, gang violence, extortion, and fear profoundly affected everyday life.
The book was officially presented in El Salvador by Abadi, who also serves as the country’s Honorary Consul in Israel, alongside Vice President Félix Ulloa and Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill. The event brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, the private sector, and academia.
During the presentation, Ulloa recalled the devastating human cost of El Salvador’s violent past, citing more than 41,000 Salvadorans murdered between 2009 and 2019, according to figures from the Institute of Forensic Medicine. He described the country’s security transformation under President Nayib Bukele as part of a broader effort to recover security and national identity.
For Abadi, however, Zero Crime goes beyond statistics. Drawing on visits and testimonies from Salvadorans who experienced life under criminal structures, the book explores how the country challenged the belief that violence was an unavoidable and permanent reality.
Abadi summarized the central message of the work by stating that El Salvador defeated not only the gangs, but also the idea that violence could never be defeated.
The launch in San Salvador gives the book particular significance, placing the country’s security experience at the center of a wider international discussion about social transformation, resilience, and the possibility of breaking long-established cycles of violence.
For a businessman previously highlighted by Forbes for linking entrepreneurship with social impact, “Zero Crime” represents a new dimension of Abadi’s engagement with El Salvador-documenting a transformation he considers significant enough to examine beyond the country’s borders.
