Ibrahim, a resident of the village of Husan southwest of Bethlehem has already seen almost everything.
Waves of terror, intifada, situations of relative routine and periods of calm.
In the shadow of all this, the question of Palestinian workers working in Israel has always hovered.
Ever since he was a child he had been helping his father in the family business in the field of renovations and construction.
Ever since he can remember, the connection with Israel and the interdependence between the two sides have been part of the reality in which he lives.
Six years ago, he himself received a permit to work in Israel.
Until then, he was considered an illegal resident, and used to enter Israel not through the official crossings in Judea and Samaria.
Many of Ibrahim's friends, he says, are going through what he went through then.
In search of ways to get around the passages, they will start the morning with a challenging climb in the mountains and descending the wadis until they manage to reach the destination.
Finding ways to get into work, Photo: Jonathan Shaul
"Here in this area we do not have a fence like there is in the more northern part of the West Bank where you enter through existing gaps. Ein Kerem, and from there some catch a bus. It is difficult. They pass through the mountains, sometimes dogs and animals come upon them, they are injured on the way. It happened more than once that someone broke his leg or arm. There are Israeli police and army forces in these areas, "Avoid all kinds of paths so as not to get caught," says Ibrahim.
"Today, the situation is better. In the last three years I think there has been an improvement, there are more permits. But there are still problems. Those who are not married and above a certain age do not get a permit to work in Israel and that creates a bad situation."
Locating illegal occupants at construction sites, Photo: Coco
Some young people who do not meet the criteria for obtaining entry permits to work in Israel are usually looking for work in the Palestinian Authority.
Others will join the cycle of unemployment.
"A young guy needs to have an orderly life. When he gets up in the morning, to have a plan, what am I going to do today. Once he goes out, works, goes back to his family in the village, then it also helps the family's livelihood and also, why should he do nonsense? "He will not think about terrorist attacks. But if there is someone who stays at home all day and has nothing to do, he has electricity bills to pay, there are obligations, there is a family that needs to be taken care of, it puts the person under pressure. That pressure can eventually explode."
For previous articles in the series
:
"The fence is a national mission": A tour of the Tarkumiya checkpoint
Who will be entitled to a work permit and how are gaps in the fence avoided?
Fence without separation: Completion of construction is not in sight
The policy of closing the eyes: Although the infiltrations of Shavuot are increasing, the punishment is actually reduced
The salary of a Palestinian worker in Israel in certain professions may be higher than that of a Palestinian Authority official, and a Palestinian contractor working in Israel and holding workers can earn more than an officer in the Palestinian security services.
The significant gap between income from work in Israel and work in the PA creates an incentive for young Palestinians to look for Israeli employers who will take care of them and sponsor them.
"Not everyone can find someone to take them. Jewish employers today are less willing to take a risk and risk hiring illegal residents. There are many poor people who do not know who to turn to. It is not worth it for them to return home to the village every day and they stay a whole week to stay in Israel. "
"In the villages you may be able to earn about NIS 100 a day, but there is no pay slip, conditions or break time," Ibrahim emphasizes, and shares that the family-clan matter also plays a role.
"With us, it's by families. One who, for example, has a business in the village and needs workers, will first of all take his uncles and relatives to take care of their livelihood."
"Jewish employers today are less willing to take risks," Photo: Jonathan Shaul
The tens of thousands of Palestinian workers working in Israel, whether with a permit or with the status of illegal immigrants, are an important and central source in the Palestinian Authority's budget.
The PA coffers rely on this revenue.
They are driving the Palestinian economy and preventing its collapse, especially at a time when the PA is suffering from severe economic distress in the face of declining external aid from the region's countries and international factors.
A controlled and supervised expansion of the number of work permits, is good for the economy and may also contribute to peace.
So is arranging approvals for some of the workers who are defined today as praise.
But even this step is not a security guarantee that the terrorist acts against Israel will stop.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us
