JERUSALEM, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The Israeli cabinet Sunday approved building a detention center in southern Israel for illegal African migrants who cross into Israel from Egypt.
At the outset of the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said steps must be taken to "stop the massive entry of infiltrators." He stressed that Israel has no intention of detaining war refugees, Haaretz said.
The decision comes less than a week after work began to construct a huge barrier along Israel's border with Egypt, aimed at thwarting attempts by migrants and terrorists from crossing into Israel.
"There is a swelling wave threatening Israeli jobs, a wave of illegal migrants that we must stop because of the harsh implications for Israel's character," Netanyahu told the ministers, the newspaper said.
"We have begun construction of a barrier in the south and we will fine employers (who hire illegal migrants) ... We must provide the infiltrators with humane conditions until their deportations," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister noted similar facilities in Holland, Italy and Spain, Ynetnews.com said.
Netanyahu added that the migrants will be returned to their homelands and interim countries.
"This is a combined national plan which will change the direction of mass entry," he said.
Minister of Interior Eli Yishai said at the cabinet meeting he opposes allowing illegal migrants to remain in Israel, The Jerusalem Post said.
"All the people that come and search for headlines need to know that in another 10 years a government investigation committee will be established to discuss how we lost the Jewish majority in Israel," Yishai said.
