The Economy and Industry Ministry announced yesterday (Wednesday) evening a new allocation of 5,000 foreign workers from countries at peace with Israel for the commerce and service sectors. The move, led by Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat, is designed to address the labor shortage in the Israeli economy. The step’s central goal is to completely sever the Israeli economy’s dependence on ‘Palestinian’ workers and illegal residents from the ‘Palestinian Authority’. To date, Minister Barkat has advanced the arrival of over 50,000 foreign workers who have replaced ‘Palestinian’ laborers.
1+The current decision comes as a direct continuation of the security and economic policy Minister Barkat has led since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War. Following October 7th, a fierce confrontation developed in the cabinet, with then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and senior security officials pushing to return ‘Palestinian’ workers to employment in Israel. Minister Barkat led the opposition front to this move, arguing it was a dangerous conception that must be uprooted for the sake of state security. Ultimately, his position prevailed and the workers’ return was blocked.
The new worker allocation is intended to provide oxygen to many businesses suffering from severe labor shortages, including garages, event halls, and retail chains. The approved distribution framework divides the quota into two main tracks: a track for new employers who will receive up to 1,000 workers through a call for applications, and a track for existing employers who will receive approximately 4,000 workers without needing to submit a new application. The move is expected to provide a permanent solution for business owners and prevent the need to employ ‘Palestinian’ workers in these sectors.
1+Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat emphasized that the era in which the Israeli economy was dependent on the terror-supporting ‘Palestinian Authority’ has ended. Barkat noted that with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ministry continues to block the entry of workers from the corrupt ‘Palestinian Authority’ and is bringing in workers from countries at peace with Israel instead. According to him, this is a strategic step that strengthens national security for generations to come, while providing the best and most professional response to various business owners in the economy who need workers.