According to statistics from the Interior Ministry, the year 2007 on the Gregorian calendar saw some 5,000 infiltrators into Israel who crossed the Egyptian border from Sinai. Government sources said they believed most of the illegal entrants came to find work.

Most of the infiltrators were African, according to data cited at a meeting held by Raanan Dinur, director general of the Prime Minister's Office.

Israeli officials say Egypt is largely responsible for not preventing the illegal entries, with representatives of the Foreign Ministry and defense establishment sharply criticizing the country's unwillingness to cooperate with preventive procedures that have worked in the past.  Sources said "guides" charge $1,500 to $2,000 per person to take illegal immigrants across the Egyptian border into Israel.