The Cabinet, at its weekly meeting on Sunday, 21 Kislev 5774, unanimously approved a plan to deal with the phenomenon of illegal migration which was presented by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Interior minister Gideon Saar, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich and Prime Minister’s Office Director General Harel Locker. The plan is pursuant to the new law to prevent illegal migration which Interior Minister Saar will submit to the Knesset tomorrow for approval on its first reading and to last September’s ruling by the High Court of Justice.

The new decisions include combined actions designed to encourage illegal migrants to leave Israel and return to their countries of origin, increase personal security for residents of Israel and reduce the presence of migrants in city centers.

Law enforcement teams from the Public Security Ministry, the Population and Migration Authority and the Economy Ministry will be reinforced with approximately 550 new positions. Enforcement will be carried out against illegal migrants themselves and those who employ them.

It was also presented today that according to the proposal of Interior Minister Saar, and with the approval of Prime Minister Netanyahu, the grant to illegal migrants who leave Israel from $1,500 to $3,500.

The issue of increased Israel Police activity in order to improve personal security in south Tel Aviv was also discussed.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “We are determined to deport the tens of thousands of illegal migrants who are here after having reduced to zero the number of illegal labor migrants who enter Israel’s cities. The steps that we unanimously approved today are proportionate and necessary for maintaining the Jewish and democratic character of the state and will restore security to Israel’s citizens while upholding the directives of the High Court of Justice and international law.”

Interior Minister Saar said: “The current plan provides essential tools for the struggle against illegal migration into the State of Israel, pursuant to the ruling of the High Court of Justice. We must stand as a fortified wall to uphold the vital interests of the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Interior Minister Saar also referred to the approval of his proposal to increase the aforesaid grant for illegal migrants who leave Israel to $3,500 and said: “This step is designed to encourage the voluntary departure of illegal migrants from Israel.”

Public Security Minister Aharonovich said: “Adding officers to strengthen the feeling of security in south Tel Aviv will greatly assist the Israel Police in its allocation of forces. 130 additional officers will allow for a significant increase in enforcement and will assist in improving citizens’ personal security and in combating crime in the area.”

This plan is in addition to the new illegal migration prevention law which sets a period of being held for one year in a closed facility, instead of for three years, which was overturned by the High Court of Justice last September, for new illegal migrants who enter the State of Israel and for illegal migrants who violate the rules of the open facility. It is also suggested in the framework of the law the operation of the open facility as an additional tool in dealing with the phenomenon of infiltration be anchored in legislation, thus facilitating enforcement of the ban on employing migrants housed in the facility.

Illegal migrants in Israel will be directed to the facility where their physical needs – including lodging, food and drink, and basic health needs – will be provided for. Illegal migrants directed to the facility will be unable to work. Thus, for the first time, the ban on employing them will be enforced. Concomitantly, the state will begin enforcement actions against those who employ illegal migrants who reside at the facility.

Also in the framework of the plan and in order to strengthen personal security in those areas of south Tel Aviv frequented by illegal migrants, the number of police officers in these areas will be increased.

Additionally, enforcement in the area of public order will be expanded by increasing the number of Population and Migration Authority inspectors who, in conjunction with their colleagues from the Economy Ministry, Health Ministry, Tax Authority, National Insurance Institute, National Fire and Rescue Service and local authorities, will act against illegal migrants and their employers. Actions will be carried out against those who employ illegal migrants who are not permitted to work and those employers who do not meet the full costs required according to labor laws and the tax code. Actions will also be taken against businesses operated by illegal migrants.

Illegal migrants who disturb public order will also be transferred to the closed facility.

These decisions, which were unanimously approved by the cabinet, will join the many actions that have been carried out by the government in order to deal with the phenomenon of illegal migration over the years, including the construction of a fence in the south and amending the law on preventing illegal migration. The goal of all of these actions is to continue action to block illegal migration to Israel and deal with illegal migrants already in Israel.

At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu commented on the deal between the US and Iran.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)