Over 40 Illegal Residents Arrested in Nazareth Area Begging Crackdown
Israeli police arrested over 40 illegal residents in the Nazareth area during a crackdown on a dangerous ring exploiting children for begging at busy northern intersections.
More than 40 illegal residents were arrested today (Friday) in the Nazareth area during an operation by Northern District police officers and MAGAL border police against the phenomenon of begging children on northern roads. As part of the operation, forces raided several buildings, hiding places in open areas, and major intersections over the past two days, detaining numerous young individuals.
According to the police, all suspects were taken to police stations. Following coordination with relevant authorities, minors were transferred back to their territories, while several adults were arrested and brought before the court as police requested an extension of their detention.
The dangerous phenomenon of placing children at major intersections to beg for alms has become a permanent nuisance and an inseparable part of the northern landscape in recent years. Around Nazareth, tens of thousands of drivers encounter young mothers with infants or children approaching cars and begging for money at traffic lights and busy intersections.
The children wander between cars on busy roads, knocking on windows and begging. At the end of each day, they are required to hand over the collected funds to individuals who smuggled them into the country. The illegal minor residents typically sleep in nearby groves or makeshift compounds.
