Israel to Replace 6,000 Africans, Palestinians with Foreign Workers

An Israeli minister put forward a proposal to bring Palestinian workers to work at construction and industrial sites in Israeli towns. (Reuters)
An Israeli minister put forward a proposal to bring Palestinian workers to work at construction and industrial sites in Israeli towns. (Reuters)
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Israel to Replace 6,000 Africans, Palestinians with Foreign Workers

An Israeli minister put forward a proposal to bring Palestinian workers to work at construction and industrial sites in Israeli towns. (Reuters)
An Israeli minister put forward a proposal to bring Palestinian workers to work at construction and industrial sites in Israeli towns. (Reuters)

Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved to bring in 6,000 foreign workers to work under official permits, which will effectively lead to the deportation of tens of thousands of African asylum-seekers.

The decision was made at the end of a cabinet session on Sunday after a heated debate that refused to grant work permits to Palestinian workers.

Negev and Galilee Minister of the Development Aryeh Deri, also one of the Shas party founders for Oriental Jews, had put forward a proposal to bring Palestinian workers to work at construction and industrial sites in Israeli towns.

“It is better and less costly for Israel to bring workers from our neighbors in the West Bank and even the Gaza Strip. They know us and we know them. They are close. While providing foreign workers with a place to stay and expensive working conditions, the Palestinians could return to sleep at home,” Deri explained.

“Many of them (Palestinians) are fluent in Hebrew. And bringing them here contributes to improving their economic and social conditions, and this helps us to improve security conditions for us and them.”

“Bringing the Palestinians, while expelling African workers, is more understandable for the countries of the world-- but expelling Africans and bringing workers from Eastern Europe will result in world countries accusing Israel of racism against blacks," Deri added.

“This accusation will not apply if we bring in Palestinian workers,” he suggested.

Israel needs 20,000 foreign workers by next summer. There has been a long debate within Israeli society about bringing workers from China, Europe or the Palestinian territories.



US Demand to Dismantle PMF Fuels Debate in Iraq, Iran

3 January 2023, Berlin: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, speaks during a press conference at the Federal Chancellery. (dpa)
3 January 2023, Berlin: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, speaks during a press conference at the Federal Chancellery. (dpa)
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US Demand to Dismantle PMF Fuels Debate in Iraq, Iran

3 January 2023, Berlin: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, speaks during a press conference at the Federal Chancellery. (dpa)
3 January 2023, Berlin: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Prime Minister of Iraq, speaks during a press conference at the Federal Chancellery. (dpa)

The United States’ demand for the dismantling of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq has fueled debate in Baghdad and Tehran.

Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh said US President Donald Trump’s recent message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei included a demand to dismantle the Tehran-backed PMF and other armed factions.

In televised remarks on Thursday, Al-Sadegh said the dismantling or merger of the PMF in the armed forces is “unacceptable for Iran and Iraq.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani later responded to his remarks, saying the US made no such demand.

In a television interview, he stressed that the dismantling of the armed factions is linked to ending the deployment of the US-led international coalition to fight ISIS in Iraq.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein declared that his country is not part of the “Resistance Axis” of armed groups across the region that are loyal to Iran.

He warned that Israel may attack Iran should Tehran fail to reach an understanding with the US.

“Iraq does not agree with the ‘unity of arenas’,” he added in a television interview.