From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Knesset passes law aimed at cracking down on illegal employment of Palestinians
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The Knesset passes a law to stiffen penalties for people who illegally transport, lodge or employ illegal aliens — a move likely aimed at Palestinians from the West Bank working in Israel without a permit.
According to the legislation, which passes its second and third readings in the Knesset plenum 18-9, under certain circumstances those found guilty of transporting or harboring people in Israel illegally can have their business permits revoked for up to a year — double the period previously stipulated by law.
In addition, courts may now order “the confiscation of property related to the offense,” including cars and apartments.
As long as employers do not face financial penalties “there will be no change,” says Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky, the bill’s sponsor. Every Israeli violating the law should know “that he will pay for it.”
Illegal residents are “ticking bombs that carry out terrorist attacks and murder our people,” says parliamentary whip Ofir Katz. “No more. We will no longer allow the blood of our brothers and sisters to be spilled because of criminals greedy for money.”
