In a precedent-setting move, the government approved a quota of thousands of Palestinian workers for work in high-tech, high-tech professions, within Israel.
To date, the state has approved permits for Palestinian workers mainly for manual labor in the construction, agriculture, industry and services industries.
Now, with the approval of the move led by the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and the Ministry of Economy and Industry, in cooperation with the Ministries of Defense, Finance and Science - the Israeli high-tech industry, which suffers from severe shortage of skilled workers in recent years, will significantly strengthen thousands of Palestinian workers.
The proposal was divided into three tiered stages, which will constitute a kind of pilot for the program, in which hundreds of visas will first be issued according to the following outline: up to 200 workers in 2022, up to 200 more workers in 2023 and up to 100 more workers in 2024. Palestinians in the high-tech industry, without compromising the overall quota for work permits for Palestinians in Israel.
Minister Issawi Farage, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
According to the outline, a limit will be set according to which the salary of a Palestinian worker in the high-tech industry will not be less than 150% of the average wage in Israel, in order to allow Israeli companies to employ advanced Palestinian workers in direct employment and "close to home." This, as an alternative to outsourcing in other countries, especially from Eastern Europe. This move will also prevent harm to Israeli workers employed in the industry. The government also approved a proposal to increase the quota in the services and industrial sectors to a maximum of 8,550 Palestinian workers, as well as a proposal to increase the quota in the Atarot EZ, to a maximum of 3,600 Palestinian workers.
The Minister for Regional Cooperation, Issawi Farage: "Israelis and Palestinians live in a common geographical area, and we must strengthen cooperation and interaction between citizens and economies. "Low wages, but also for white-collar workers in a leading industry, which suffers from a severe shortage of manpower. We hope that the move will strengthen the high-tech industry in the Palestinian Authority."
However, the move has provoked criticism, especially in right-wing circles, claiming it could endanger human lives.
"This is a security threat to the State of Israel," said Matan Peleg, chairman of the If You Will movement.
Instead of promoting employment in the ultra-Orthodox and Druze sectors, Palestinians employ in our center of knowledge and progress.
It's not even blindness, it's unparalleled stupidity. "
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