Israel, PA agree on return of construction workers
Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed on the conditions for the return of some 50,000 workers, mostly in the construction sector.
After the exchange of words in April between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), following accusations of senior PA officials that Israel is purposely spreading the coronavirus among Palestinians, things seem to have calmed a bit, and the new arrangement to allow Palestinian workers into Israel attests to this. The arrangement is meant to rescue the Israeli construction industry from a harsh blow because of the shortage of workers, and to provide economic relief to tens of thousands of Palestinian families.
The start of the coronavirus outbreak actually saw close cooperation between Israel and the PA. Palestinian medical personnel entered Israel from the West Bank and from the Gaza Strip, with Hamas’ permission, in order to receive training to treat the virus that causes COVID-19 at Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and Shiba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, which are now specialized medical centers.
