Aharonovitch: Infiltrators require new jail every month

Internal security minister says some 1,200 African infiltrators enter Israel illegally each month

Reuters | Published: 07.18.10, 12:52

Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said during the cabinet meeting on Sunday that 1,200 African infiltrators enter Israel every month and that the police is unable to handle them under the current state. "It means a new prison needs to be built every month," Aharonovitch noted and added that by the end of 2010 some 13,000 infiltrators are expected to enter the country.

In a meeting on Israel's immigration policy, the minister said that "according to various estimates there are between a million and a half and two million African immigrants waiting in Cairo on their way to Israel."

He noted that the southern city of Ashdod is the infiltrators' new destination, which currently houses approximately 2,000 illegal aliens.

Aharonovitch noted there were 155,000 illegal aliens residing in Tel Aviv, Arad, Eilat and Ashdod. Some 50,000 of them are crowded in the Tel Aviv Central Bus Station area.

Still infuriated with not having his demands entered into the government budget, the minister claimed that addressing the infiltrators issue is slated to cost the country some NIS 400 million (roughly $104 million) in the coming months.

Aharonovitch added that the foreigners population in Tel Aviv is developing its own culture, calling the situation "a state within a state." "They have courts with their own judges in utter disregard for the rule of law in Israel. Churches and mosques are being built, a special social and cultural atmosphere is being maintained and there are cases of special crime involving drunkenness, violence, robbery, sexual offences and more."

'Clock is ticking'

The minister noted, "As of now, crime is centered in the foreigners sector but there is no doubt the clock is ticking and sooner or later it will seep into Israel."

Aharonovitch reiterated the government's stance that the phenomenon does not extend to asylum seekers but infiltrators seeking work and avoiding being drafted into armies in their own countries.

He demanded that work on the fence along the Egyptian border be commenced immediately and that a police force be stationed in the Tel Aviv and Eilat central bus stations.

The minister also demanded the Employment Law be enforced and heavy punishment be given to infiltrators in order to hurt their motivation to come to Israel.