The initiative, which is estimated to cost an additional NIS 630 million ($169 million), calls for the establishment of a new detainment facility in the south. A new protocol for the deportation of infiltrators is also to be created as part of the plan. The government has already invested NIS 1.5 billion ($400 million) in aspects of the project.
Related stories:
- Infiltrators' detention facility 'a ghetto'
Huldai urges PM action on infiltrator issue
'Israel-Egypt border mostly incomplete'
"Israel is a small country," Netanyahu said. "We cannot allow ourselves a flood of infiltrators who come here to work. It is a threat on our society, economy and security. This why we must speed up the solution for the problem."
Netanyahu with refugee in Eilat (Photo: Avi Ohayon, GPO)
The initiative also proposes to significantly increase the fines imposed on employers who take on illegal refugees; in extreme cases, businesses could be shut down for the violation.
Ministery budget cuts
The government ministries will be required to cut their budgets by 2% to finance the plan. The Defense Ministry is expected to contribute half of the NIS 250 million ($67 million) necessary to build the detention facility near Israel's southern border. An additional NIS 100 million ($27 million) will be required to operate the center. The Finance Ministry has proposed to place the center within military facilities with existing infrastructure.
The government has already given a preliminary okay to the establishment of the prison, which was proposed by Interior Minister Eli Yishai two years ago, but it remains unclear when construction is to begin. The facility is expected to have a maximum capacity of 10,000 people, who would live there for a limited period of time before leaving the country.
The government is also expected to decide Sunday on the completion of the border fence between Israel and Egypt. The completion of the project is estimated to cost NIS 280 million ($75 million). Construction of the 180-kilometer (112 miles) fence is expected to be completed within less than a year.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop