VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHTVA #0599 0571017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ZUI RUEWMCE6608 0571047
R 261017Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0000
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TEL AVIV 000599
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO NEA/IPA AND G/TIP.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB GTIP PHUM IS KCRM KJUS
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL ANNOUNCES NATIONAL PLAN TO
COMBAT SLAVERY AND LABOR TRAFFICKING
1. (U) THE GOI HAS DRAFTED A NATIONAL PLAN TO COMBAT HUMAN
TRAFFICKING FOR THE PURPOSES OF SLAVERY AND FORCED LABOR,
FOCUSING ON PROSECUTION, PREVENTION AND PROTECTION. THE PLAN
IS DESIGNED TO HELP MIGRANT WORKERS, WHO OFTEN PAY LARGE FEES
TO AGENCIES THAT ARRANGE THEIR JOBS IN ISRAEL AND ARE THUS
VULNERABLE TO EXPLOITATION -- INCLUDING COERCED SEXUAL
SERVICES -- UNTIL THOSE FEES CAN BE RECOUPED. THE PLAN WAS A
JOINT EFFORT OF THE DIRECTORS-GENERAL OF THE MINISTRIES OF
JUSTICE, PUBLIC SECURITY, INTERIOR, INDUSTRY, TRADE AND
LABOR, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HEALTH AND WELFARE, AS WELL AS THE
PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE AND THE POLICE COMMISSIONER.
2. (U) IN A MEETING ON JANUARY 10, 2007, THE COMMITTEE OF
DIRECTORS GENERAL REGARDING THE BATTLE AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN
PERSONS DECIDED ON A NATIONAL PLAN TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING FOR
SLAVERY AND FORCED LABOR. THE DECISION WAS BASED ON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF A SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRED BY RACHEL GERSHUNI,
APPOINTED LAST YEAR AS INTERMINISTERIAL ANTI-TRAFFICKING
COORDINATOR. THE GOI DESCRIBED THE PLAN AS A "NECESSARY
FIRST STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY TO SUPPRESS THIS
SCOURGE." THE COORDINATOR'S OFFICE HAS A STATED "MESSIANIC
VISION" TO "END TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AND THUS MAKE OUR
OFFICE UNNECESSARY", AN "OVERRIDING GOAL" TO "MAKE SURE THAT
ISRAEL MEETS INTERNATIONAL CRITERIA IN REGARD TO THE BATTLE
AGAINST TRAFFICKING, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HUMAN RIGHTS", AND A
"WORKING METHOD" TO "BRING ABOUT COOPERATION AMONG BODIES AND
INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THE FIELD."
3. (U) THE COMMITTEE STATED FIVE PRIORITIES DURING THE FIRST
STAGE: DIVIDING THE WORK BETWEEN ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN
ORDER TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS AGAINST EMPLOYERS
WHO USE SLAVERY OR COERCION; DEVELOPING CRITERIA FOR
IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF SLAVERY; LAUNCHING AN INFORMATION
CAMPAIGN IN THE WORKERS' COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN TO INFORM THEM
OF THEIR RIGHTS; HELPING VICTIMS REPATRIATE TO THEIR
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN; AND FORMULATING A PACKAGE OF SERVICES
FOR VICTIMS, INCLUDING SAFE HOUSES AND HEALTH CARE. THE LACK
OF FACILITIES FOR LABOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS HAS BEEN A
PARTICULAR SORE POINT WITH NGOS IN ISRAEL. FIVE TEAMS HAVE
BEEN TASKED WITH DESIGNING WITHIN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR
MONTHS OPERATIVE STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THESE OBJECTIVES. THE
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT SUBMITTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS APPOINTED
AS A PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WILL MEET PERIODICALLY TO
DEAL WITH PROBLEMS AND DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS.
4. (U) THE COMMITTEE RECOGNIZED THAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS MAY
REQUIRE CHANGES IN EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT
OF FOREIGN WORKERS THAT "CREATE A CLIMATE FRIENDLY TO THE
DEVELOPMENT" OF TRAFFICKING. THE COMMITTEE ALSO EMPHASIZED
THAT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS CONSTITUTE A NATIONAL PLAN, NOT
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES THAT "WILL NEED TO BE DESIGNED IN THE
WAKE OF THE PLAN." OTHER COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE
CONSIDERATION OF A POLICY THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENTRY OF
FOREIGN WORKERS FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NO DIPLOMATIC
REPRESENTATION IN ISRAEL, CLEAR PROCEDURES REGARDING THE
TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES,
ENFORCING EXISTING LAWS PROHIBITING MIDDLEMAN FEES, PLACEMENT
OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN DETENTION FACILITIES, LEGAL AID TO
VICTIMS OF SLAVERY AND LABOR TRAFFICKING, AND HEIGHTENED
SUPERVISION OF THE EGYPTIAN BORDER. INDUSTRY, TRADE AND
LABOR MINISTRY INSPECTORS, IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND POLICE
ARE ALREADY UNDERGOING TRAINING TO HELP THEM RECOGNIZE
TRAFFICKING.
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VISIT EMBASSY TEL AVIV'S CLASSIFIED WEBSITE:
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/NEA/TELAVIV
YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS THIS SITE THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S
CLASSIFIED SIPRNET WEBSITE.
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JONES