Globes, Guy Lieberman, 28.03.2020

One of the extreme scenarios of the real estate industry in light of the Corona crisis is approaching. The industry, which relies on nearly 70,000 Palestinian construction workers, has so far managed to skip the stricter restrictions, in light of its exclusion, so many construction sites have continued to work so far.

But now it seems that in the event of further restrictions - the industry will go into a spin. At a meeting of the National Security Council (MLA) near the Sabbath, it was said that "despite the recent decline in the rate of expansion, the current figures still lead us to an unbearable reality. If the strict measures are not taken, the price of the mistake can be unbearable. "The mood of the meeting seems to be the tendency to approve a number of additional restrictions, already in the cabinet meeting tomorrow morning. Among the steps included in the exacerbations is also a clause that" Palestinians will be banned from staying in Israel. Except for workers in agriculture, nursing and food. ”It is noted that some 70,000 Palestinian workers work in the construction industry, and that their activities extend to most of Israel's construction and infrastructure sites.

The president of the Israel Builders' Association, Raul Sarogo, who in recent weeks has warned of such a scenario, and who has worked extensively with the office of the Minister of Construction Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton, said: "In no case should activity in the construction and infrastructure industry be stopped. I urge the Prime Minister not to approve a decision that will hurt the continued activity in the construction industry, so as not to adversely affect the Israeli economy.At present millions of square meters of government buildings and local authorities are being built alongside 116,000 apartments and the damage to the industry will be a huge hit that what we have seen so far in the economy is only his "coming". The financial system has provided NIS 350 billion to finance the construction and the industry currently employs about a quarter of a million Israelis to go home. The activity in the industry is relatively safe, since the sites are closed and monitored, we know exactly who enters and who leaves. The public does not come and do not enter and there is no fear of loss of control as a result of the continued activity of the industry. I demand that the government properly manage the risks and avoid the industry's return. Let us continue to work, we will have the capabilities like this decision and we will continue to lead the Israeli economy even during the current crisis. "