Interior Minister Eli Yishai on Sunday said that the criticism of him over the question of illegal foreign workers bringing diseases into Israel was out of place – because he was just repeating a statement he had heard from Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharanovich. In an interview Saturday night, Yishai said that the foreign workers bring in a variety of diseases, like hepatitis and AIDS, and are responsible for increased drug use.
In a statement, Yishai's office said that the Minister was just quoting Aharonovich when he made the statement – and that he did not intend to include all foreign workers, just those who illegally entered Israel through the southern border, migrating from Africa in search of jobs here.