MK Yousef Jabareen called the legislation “draconian,” “disproportionate” and “unconstitutional” and argued that it “hurts Arab citizens of Israel whose partners are from the territories.”
MK Yogev noted that the bill was introduced during the previous Knesset following an increase in the number of terror attacks. “Following the latest terror attack, in which some of the attackers were illegal residents, the bill was introduced as a government-sponsored proposal which I support,” he said. “I am in favor of issuing many additional permits for Palestinian Arabs who seek work, but the illegal entry [of Palestinian Arabs] has intensified over the past few years, and so has the potential of a threat, to the point of murder, and many people have lost their lives. This law will contribute to the ‘toolbox’ of deterrence and punishment.”