Beggar with baby earns thousands of shekels - and transfers to the "contractor" who brought her into Israel
Northern District Police raided hideout apartments and groves near Nazareth, arresting dozens of suspects and children employed in collecting alms at junctions. Police investigation reveals that Palestinian beggars, some with infants months old, earn up to 3,000 shekels a day and transfer funds to Israeli "contractors" who brought them into Israel. The children, some aged 4-5, sleep in groves.
Northern District Police raided hideout apartments and groves near Nazareth, arresting dozens of suspects and children employed in collecting alms at major junctions in the area. The police investigation reveals a harsh picture: Palestinian beggars, some young mothers aged 21 with infants several months old, stand for hours in heat exceeding 40 degrees Celsius asking for alms. According to Superintendent Tal Crispin, a municipal policing officer in the Nazareth police, the beggars are able to earn up to 3,000 shekels a day, while part of the sum is transferred to Israeli "contractors" who brought them into Israel. The children, some aged 4-5, sleep in nearby groves or in compounds set up for them. Some of the beggars have been arrested several times before but continue to return. Most came from the Jenin area and others from Nablus. Children under the age of criminal responsibility were transferred in coordination with the IDF to the Palestinian Authority, and adults were deported to the checkpoint.