Globes, Guy Nardi, 28.04.2020

The NSC yesterday decided that all 67,000 Palestinian workers in the construction industry could return to work in Israel this coming Sunday (3.5).

In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Palestinian residents have left their jobs and returned to their homes. Because of the emergency regulations and the closure of the border crossings, they have not been allowed to return to the workplace to date. According to data from the Builders Association, less than 15,000 Palestinian workers were in Israel this week. The decision to open the border crossings was made in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, with the understanding that workers' entry is essential to the Israeli and Palestinian economy.

In this framework, the government set rules by which the employees could return to work, ensuring that their stay at any given time within enclosed complexes as permanent homogeneous groups and without the ability to move outside the complex. Contractors who employ the workers must take care to allow them to stay in good conditions in the enclosed complexes.

President of the Israel Builders Association Raul Sarogo said: "The process of freezing construction work we have been warning about for weeks is expected to bring about an average of six months late to complete the construction of over 90,000 apartments currently under construction. "The housing and the economy as a whole. The National Security Council did well when it realized the size of the harm that continued prevention of workers' return could create for the entire economy. We will continue to work to ensure the stability and strength of the construction and infrastructure industry."