Israel revokes license for Chinese workers

On October 8, 2026, the Israel Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) officially announced the revocation of the work permit of a Chinese citizen suspected of facilitating an attempt to enter the country illegally.

A Chinese worker who had lived in Israel for about two years was detained on Route 90 near the Jordanian border. He was waiting for two compatriots who tried to cross the border from Jordan, but were detained by Jordanian security forces in the neighboring territory. Immediately after his arrest, Israeli authorities handed the man over to the Aliens Supervision Authority, where he was revoked his work permit for violating the conditions of his stay. Detainees are subject to deportation proceedings, including an administrative hearing, as set out in standard procedures for foreign nationals who have violated the country’s immigration and labor laws. The official statement was published on the website of the Office of Population and Immigration of Israel (piba.gov.il).

The context of this incident is related to the peculiarities of labor migration from China to Israel. Since 2017, the two countries have had a bilateral agreement regulating the recruitment of Chinese workers for the construction industry. According to these agreements, recruitment is carried out through state structures, which minimizes illegal schemes and protects the rights of workers. In recent years, especially after the events of October 2023, Israel has significantly increased quotas for foreign workers: in 2024 it was planned to attract up to 70,000 specialists from China, India and other countries, and by 2026 the total limit for foreign workers in trade and services increased to 25,000 people. Despite transparent recruitment mechanisms, isolated cases of violations are extremely rare, and to date there have been no reports of Chinese nationals being detained for facilitating illegal entry across the Jordanian border.

The past two years have seen an increase in attempts to cross Israel’s eastern border illegally, especially in the Arava area and along Route 90. According to the Israeli military and the Interior Ministry, in 2025 alone, there were more than 4,000 attempts to enter illegally from Jordan. The majority of detainees are from Eritrea and Sudan, but cases involving citizens of China and other Asian countries have recently increased. Experts attribute this to the activation of cross-border criminal networks engaged not only in illegal migration, but also in the smuggling of weapons and drugs. After the October 2023 war, Israel stepped up security measures on the eastern border: army posts were restored, patrols increased, and construction of a new $1.4 billion border barrier began in 2025, which should close the most vulnerable areas from the Golan Heights to Eilat. In addition, from January 2025, mandatory electronic authorization ETA-IL was introduced for all those entering Israel from countries with a visa-free regime, which made it possible to tighten control over the flow of foreign citizens.

In the field of labor migration, the Israeli authorities adhere to a policy of zero tolerance for violations: if facts of facilitating illegal entry or employment outside the framework of the permit are found, the work permit is revoked administratively, and the offender is subject to deportation. The procedure includes detention, a hearing at the Aliens Supervision Authority and subsequent expulsion, unless grounds for release are identified. Employers found to have committed violations are also administratively liable and may be fined.

It is worth noting that despite the potential international significance of the incident, neither Chinese state media (such as Xinhua or Global Times) nor leading international agencies (Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC) have reported or commented on the case at the time of publication. The main information comes from the official report of the Israeli authorities and local news resources.

In conclusion, the incident of the detention of a Chinese worker and the revocation of his license amid an increase in attempts to illegally cross the eastern border underscores Israel’s tough stance on migration control and labor market protection. In the near future, further tightening of security measures and improvement of mechanisms for the selection of foreign workers is expected, which should reduce the risks of illegal migration and strengthen cooperation with key partner countries.