According to the Immigration Authority, the number of illegal workers in Israel has reached 300,000. Of that number, approximately 20,000 arrived in the country illegally through the southern border with Egypt. The figures also includes about 50,000 Jordanians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a recent statement to the press that the situation is serious. “The unceasing stream of illegals into Israel in recent years has led to a situation in which the proportion of foreign workers in Israel is among the highest in the world, relative to the local population and the number of employed persons. This fact increases unemployment among Israelis and significantly changes Israel's internal demographic balance.”
The end of a three-month moratorium on the deportation of the children of illegal migrants is coming to an end on November 1st. Some 1,200 children fall into the category of those set to be expelled. Leftist groups have launched an expensive advertising campaign depicting the children as victims and calling on the government to let them stay.