JERUSALEM: The US State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons report revealed there are Israeli traffickers specializing in the trafficking of Russian and Chinese women to Israel through Sinai. The report ranked Israel in the same category as Pakistan and Rwanda, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. The report added that number of Africans entering Israel from Sinai reached new heights in November, as nearly 2,000 came. Israeli Immigration Authority said overall, some 36,000 illegal migrants reside in Israel. The report also states, "Israel is a destination-country for men and women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Low-skilled workers from Thailand, China, Nepal, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, and, to a lesser extent, Romania, migrate voluntarily and legally to Israel for temporary contract labor in construction, agriculture, and home health care provision.” The report noted “an increased number of migrants (approximately 14,000) crossed into Israel in 2010 from the Sinai, compared to approximately 5,000 in 2009.” Israel is placed the US State Department's Tier 2 category, alongside countries such as Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Oman and Sierra Leone. Israel is not included in the list of western democratic states, including Western Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia, in terms of fulfilling the minimum standards required to battle human trafficking.
