The story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt bequeathed to us, their descendants, a moral principle repeated dozens of times in the Torah: we must remember that we were strangers in the land of Egypt, and we are therefore commanded to care for the vulnerable and the outsider among us. During Passover week, as we commemorate both our suffering and our redemption, it is worth asking what this commandment means for Israel today.

The vulnerable are those at the mercy of others, including the poor. Israel ranks uncomfortably high among developed countries on two key measures: poverty and inequality. During the large waves of immigration in the state’s early years, poverty was widespread, but inequality was relatively low. It grew in the 1980s, with economic reforms such as privatization and cuts to social benefits. Among OECD countries (a club of economically stable democracies) Israel now ranks 30th out of 37 in public welfare spending, with all that implies for the less fortunate among us. Have we learned the lesson of Egypt?

Among the “strangers” living in our midst, two groups stand out: foreign workers who perform jobs which Israelis tend to avoid, and Palestinians from the territories. This is not the place to debate whether the territories are liberated, occupied, ancestral land, any other definition. Whatever the designation, millions of people have lived under Israeli rule since the Six Day War, with their movement and livelihoods subject to Israeli decisions. In recent years, as Israel’s presence in the territories has deepened and senior officials have spoken openly about annexation, this control has intensified.

Palestinian employment inside Israel began shortly after the 1967 war. Over the years, security developments have led to restrictions or even temporary halts to the entry of workers from the territories, but they have never been as prolonged and sweeping as today. Since October 7 2023, entry has been almost completely halted, with only limited exceptions.

At the outset, the current suspension severely affected sectors such as construction and agriculture, slowing activity. Israeli workers who filled some of the gaps drove wages up, and employers increasingly turned to foreign labor. Close to 100,000 foreign workers, who are more costly than workers from the territories, have entered Israel over the past two and a half years.

The issue of foreign workers is itself complex. There are reports about those who remain after their legal permits expire, as well as stories of marriages with Israelis or children born to migrant workers who struggle to find their place, here or anywhere. At times, these situations evolve into deep human tragedies.

As for the territories, the consequences of the halt to employment have been severe: billions of shekels in lost income, rising unemployment, increased reliance on international aid, and growing internal tensions. In other words, the decision to block Palestinian employment in Israel carries broad economic and social implications on both sides of the Green Line – for Israel, for the growing number of foreign workers, and for Palestinians.

You might say: but Palestinians pose a security risk. However, as far as is known, only a very small number of permit holders have been involved in attacks against Israelis, and security authorities warn that ongoing economic difficulties and resulting despair will only increase instability and friction. You might also say: what is that to us? Let them manage on their own! That argument might hold if there were no Israeli control over their lives. But Israel is, in practice, moving toward a single state reality between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. One cannot reasonably demand permanent control over the territories while claiming no responsibility for the fate of the people who live there.

There are no simple solutions to these issues – the hardship of the poor within Israel, the growing reliance on foreign workers, and the fate of those living in the territories. But alongside the bitter herbs and matzah we eat, symbols of our historical suffering and our redemption, it is worth asking what lessons the story of the Exodus holds for us today.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)