The Israeli government has decided to bring in up to 6,400 foreign workers in the near future to replace Palestinian workers who were employed in various commercial and service sectors. This decision follows directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to “i24 news,” a committee in Tel Aviv convened two evenings ago and decided to import up to 6,400 foreign workers into sectors such as commerce, infrastructure, and services, especially in cleaning, event halls, garages, wholesale and retail trade, transportation, construction services, and infrastructure.
Before the conflict, Israel employed 5,572 Palestinian workers in these commercial and service sectors. Due to labor shortages post-conflict, the Ministry of Economy decided to bring in foreign workers to alleviate the existing crisis.
Since October 7 last year, Israel has barred entry for 170,000 Palestinian workers, 120,000 from within the Green Line and 50,000 from the West Bank. Israel has approved the entry of 98,000 foreign workers so far to compensate for them, which equals 60% of the labor force needed to return to pre-conflict levels.
