The chairman of the Knesset Committee on the Problem of Foreign Workers said that Sunday’s government decision to build a barrier along the Israel-Egypt border is a boon for Israeli cities and will bolster Israel’s Jewish character.
Chairman MK Yaakov Katz (National Union) said, “This is a very welcome decision by the government, and will put an end to the infiltration of tens of thousands of people who have flooded Eilat, Arad, and Tel Aviv. Most of them are not refugees, but are simply Sudanese and Eritreans looking for work. This barrier will also close off the border to terrorists, prostitutes and smugglers.”
Katz said he would call a committee session in the coming days in order to track the implementation of the decision.
Construction of the barrier will cost approximately NIS 1 billion, it is estimated, and will be spread over a period of several years.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explained afterwards that the decision was based on both security and demographic considerations: "I decided to close Israel's southern border to infiltrators and terrorists after prolonged discussions with government ministries and professional elements. This is a strategic decision to ensure the Jewish and democratic character of the State of Israel. Israel will remain open to war refugees, but we cannot allow thousands of illegal workers to infiltrate into Israel via the southern border and flood our country."
Israel Must Remain JewishAsked about accusations that supporters of the barrier are racist, Katz said, “Israel, like every other sovereign state, has an obligation to ensure that it remains that way. If there is a fear that Israel will become Eritrea or Sudan, and that the Jews might have to return to Uganda, then this takes precedence over all other considerations. There are some extreme leftist groups that would like to see Israel lose its Jewish character and become a ‘state of all its citizens.’ They want to counter the growth of the religious and hareidi sectors by bringing in Eritreans. But we want Tel Aviv to be a Jewish city, and the same with Eilat. If there are genuine refugees that have to be helped, this can be done in a measured manner. But Israel must remain Jewish.”