Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning that Israel could be swamped by illegal migrants from Africa

The mounting number of immigrants is high on the national agenda following a series of crimes, including rapes, that have been perpetrated by the newcomers. Netanyahu says that the influx is threatening the fabric of Israeli society, its national security and its national identity. He says if Israel doesn't stop it, then 60,000 infiltrators are liable to become 600,000, and lead to the eradication of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. More than 50,000 Africans have poured into Israel since 2005, seeking to escape persecution and poverty.