Two construction workers died in Ashdod on Wednesday when a wall collapsed on them at a construction site.

The two men were employees of a subcontractor for the Israel Electric Corporation, which was doing infrastructure work in the southern port city. The Labor Ministry said an initial assessment found that a wall collapsed on them during excavations for underground electric cables.

Ministry safety officials and police were dispatched to the scene, and an investigation was opened...

“In recent years, work accidents in Israel have turned into a sick evil that is claiming many victims,” Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur said.

“According to the data, a significant part of the accidents are caused by negligence and disregard for the provisions of the law,” he added.

He vowed to “not allow human lives to be disrespected” and called on all relevant parties to act responsibly and join the “determined struggle to eradicate work accidents and regulate lawlessness.”