Bill would raise fines on employing Palestinians illegally

Proposed government legislation would up fines to over NIS 450,000, raise maximum jail term to four years

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan is urging legislation to increase fines for Israelis who employ and house undocumented Palestinian workers in Israel.

Even employing them indirectly, as in the case of construction companies that hire independent contractors who employ Palestinians without the requisite work permits, could make a business owner eligible for fines and even jail time.

The proposed amendment to the Law of Entry, which regulates permits for Palestinians crossing from the West Bank into Israel, will also grant police the authority to shutter businesses and building sites for up to 30 days if they are caught employing Palestinians illegally.

It will also give courts the power to close such businesses entirely and cancel their operating licenses.

The new set of punishments were suggested by Erdan in light of an ongoing wave of Palestinian terror attacks, some of which have been carried out by such illegal workers.

“Whoever employs Palestinians who illegally live in Israel endangers the lives of Israeli citizens,” Erdan said Sunday. “In the wave of terror we have yet more evidence of how dangerous the presence of [Palestinian laborers without permits] can be in city centers and building sites. We must harshly punish those who employ and house these people.”

Tens of thousands of Palestinians work in Israel each day. Work permits are given by the IDF. Authorities have estimated that the actual number of Palestinians who enter Israel for work has occasionally reached double the number who have permits.

Under the proposed amendment to the Law of Entry, business owners who repeatedly employ Palestinians who enter Israel illegally can be fined up to NIS 452,000 ($116,000), up dramatically from the current maximum fine of approximately NIS 67,000 ($17,000), while one-time offenders can be fined up to NIS 75,000 ($19,300). The amendment would set a minimum fine of NIS 5,000 ($1,300).

In addition to the fines, the maximum jail time for repeat offenders will be raised from the current two years to four. Those who transport undocumented workers will also face a possible suspended sentence of up to four years.

Under current law, Israelis caught transporting Palestinians who are in Israel illegally can also have their car confiscated and driver’s license revoked by up to six months.