'We're better without Palestinian workers': Construction heads say foreigners better for Israel

Zeev Salant, co-CEO of Omer Construction and Engineering, stated that Israel's construction industry is performing better without Palestinian laborers, citing a 30% increase in output despite higher wages. He noted that foreign workers offer improved work safety, quality, and longer workdays, starting earlier and finishing later, including Fridays. Baruch Hadad, another co-CEO, welcomed the shift to foreign laborers, emphasizing their advantages in quality and efficiency, making projects "more economically worthwhile than in the past." Salant explained that the industry previously relied on Palestinian workers due to government restrictions on foreign labor, which changed after the October 7, 2023, attack halted Palestinian workers' entry. Omer Construction, a veteran company, navigated the post-war crises, including labor and material shortages, by leveraging its reputation and timely payments to subcontractors.