'Important law.' Aharonovitch
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Draft bill increasing penalty for assisting infiltrators approved
Migrant labor, Palestinians, organized networks are target for bill drafted by internal security minister. Proposed law enables prison terms of three to five years, replaces temporary orders in place since 1996
The government approved a draft bill Sunday which will enable harsher steps to be taken against illegal aliens in Israel, including Palestinians and other infiltrators as well as those assisting them. The bill will be passed on to the Knesset for voting.
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch's office said, "This is an important law which will work in both the criminal and security arenas." The law also enables penalties of three to five years' imprisonment for those aiding the infiltration of illegal workers.
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The Internal Security Ministry focused mainly on the issue of infiltration into Israel from the West Bank, and explained that assisting infiltrators has become more sophisticated in recent years, especially in transporting them. The law will also be valid regarding infiltrators from Sinai.
According to a senior source at the minister's office, the existence of organized networks has led to harsher sentencing. Till now, offenders were fined or liable to a maximum prison term of two years. The new law enables sentencing of three to five years for those transporting illegal aliens. The bill also allows police to impound a vehicle used for such transportation and confiscate the driver's license, both for up to 30 days.
Explanations of the law included the claim that infiltrators were a "strategic target" for recruitment and operation by terror groups. In addition, smuggling networks also work according to financial considerations. "Due to progress in building the separation fence and the rise in transportation costs due to increased fuel costs, Palestinians illegally in Israel are tending to stay longer," it was claimed.
Only 77,000 of 255,000 migrant workers are legal
To assist in fighting the organized networks, it has also been suggested that a paragraph in the Entry into Israel Law should be amended. The amendment would enable imprisonment of up to five years for anyone convicted of managing or organizing transportation services for illegal aliens. The bill will now be passed on to the Knesset to undergo the usual legislative procedures.
According to data from the Internal Security Ministry, the percentage of migrant workers in the business sector was 10.4% in 2008, while unemployment in the same year stood at 6.1%. "Unemployment is high among Israeli unskilled workers, who are competing for jobs taken by migrant workers," the Ministry noted.
In December 2009, there were 255,000 migrant workers in Israel. Of these, 77,000 were in the country legally, working in nursing, agriculture, restaurants and industry.
