The Interior Ministry believes the applications are due to fears of an Iraqi attack on Israel.
The Ministry of the Interior today reported a moderate increase in the number of passports issued by various branches throughout Israel, since the beginning of the week.
However, the Ministry of the Interior states, the increase is not unusually large at the Tel-Aviv branch. 150 Passports were issued today, about 50% more than yesterday, but a very small number compared to the summer season. At other branches the number of passports issued was stable.
The Tel-Aviv offices of the Ministry of Interior witnessed a new phenomenon this week, when a number of foreign workers, mostly from Africa, living illegally in Israel, applied to them each day requesting laissez-passers to leave Israel.
This phenomenon is explained by the fear the foreign workers have of an Iraqi attack on Israel. In Tel-Aviv alone it is estimated there are 50,000 foreign workers, who are not provided with any means of protection against chemical or biological attack.
Due to appeals on this matter, the Minister of Labor is said to be about to sign an order giving instructions for protective kits to be issued also to foreign workers.
Published by Israel's Business Arena February 4, 1998