Israel Moves to Corral Illegal Entrants

Amid rhetoric that could be coming straight out of Arizona, the Israeli Cabinet has voted to build a facility in the desert to hold detained illegal migrants, who arrive mostly from Africa.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in support of the action, said the migrants carry “harsh implications for Israel’s character.” —JCL

Al-Jazeera English:

Israel’s cabinet has voted to build a facility to hold the thousands of illegal immigrants who arrive every year mainly from Africa.

The move is designed to provide a centre in the country’s southern Negev desert, close to the border with Egypt, where the basic needs of the migrants can be met, but they will not be allowed to work, Israeli officials said.

“There is a swelling wave threatening Israeli jobs, a wave of illegal migrants that we must stop because of the harsh implications for Israel’s character,” Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told the cabinet before the vote on Sunday.

Read more

AP / Marc Israel Sellem

A bulldozer works at the site where Israel is building a detention camp for illegal immigrants.