Eisenkot Pledges to Allow 70,000 Palestinian Workers From West Bank Into Israel

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and former IDF Chief of Staff, outlined significant policy changes he plans to implement in Judea and Samaria if elected prime minister. Speaking at an election event in Modi'in, Eisenkot stated his intention to reinstate administrative orders, abolish the additional minister role in the Ministry of Defense currently held by Bezalel Smotrich, and permit 60,000 to 70,000 Palestinian workers from Judea and Samaria to enter Israel for employment.

Eisenkot specifically addressed the issue of Palestinian laborers, noting that their entry into Israel was significantly restricted following the October 7th attacks. He argued that current policies inadvertently lead to tens of thousands of Palestinians entering and working in Israel illegally. Instead, Eisenkot proposed to regulate the entry of workers from Judea and Samaria who have passed security checks and received work permits. He estimated that currently, 40,000 to 60,000 workers become illegal residents due to these restrictions.

This is not the first time Eisenkot has voiced support for the return of Palestinian workers. Earlier in the month, he distinguished between workers from Judea and Samaria and those from the Gaza Strip, stating that no worker from Gaza would be permitted to enter Israel for the next century. He recalled opposing the entry of Gazan workers during his tenure as Chief of Staff, partly due to Hamas holding the bodies of fallen soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul.

Beyond labor policy, Eisenkot pledged to dismantle the additional minister position within the Ministry of Defense, which granted significant civilian authority in Judea and Samaria to Bezalel Smotrich. Eisenkot has previously criticized Smotrich's handling of these authorities, arguing it undermined the IDF's standing in the region. While supporting Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria, he stressed it must be lawful and aligned with national interests.

Eisenkot also proposed broader governmental reforms, including reducing the number of government ministries from 37 to 24 by closing 13. Additionally, he committed to limiting a prime minister's term to eight years, citing the corrupting influence of power.