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Netanyahu to Visit Africa in Bid to Stem Illegal Migration to Israel
(Ha'aretz) Moti Bassok and Barak Ravid - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet Sunday that he plans to travel to Africa to examine the possibility of returning illegal labor migrants to their home countries. He said the phenomenon of infiltrators entering Israel via Egyptian Sinai is a "blow to [Israel's] economy, society, infrastructure, welfare and internal security." Netanyahu emphasized that the Africans infiltrating into Israel are labor migrants, not refugees. "We will continue to care for refugees, but they make up a minimal part of the human wave flooding. Entire populations are starting to move and, if we don't act to stop this, we will be flooded." There are currently 52,487 illegal labor migrants in Israel. A plan approved on Sunday includes completion of a new border fence with Egypt within the coming year and an increase in fines on employers who hire illegal migrants.