Oz Unit Commander Tziki Sela
Photo: Yael Tzur
Labor immigrants at risk of deportation
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Oz Unit head resigns
Tziki Sela, head of immigration police unit that has instilled fear in illegal immigrants in recent months, resigns after six months on the job. Resignation comes following reports of unit's officer not receiving wages
After six months of heading the Interior Ministry's special Oz Unit that has been working to deport illegal immigrants from Israel, Tziki Sela, the unit's commander, resigned on Tuesday.
The Interior Ministry reported on Monday that the interior minister "regretfully accepted" his resignation.
The Oz Unit came in place of the immigration police force that was dismantled. In July 2009, the, unit commenced activity, instilling fear in foreign citizens residing in Israel illegally. With regards to the illegal immigrants' children, it was decided in the meantime not to deport them.
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It was reported recently that Oz Unit officers were not receiving their wages, since no one in the Interior Ministry's Immigration and Population Administration, which was set up last year and manages the unit, drafted wage agreements for the officers.
As a result, talks for formulating contracts only began after the unit was formed. Sela intervened at the time to try to reach a solution.
The Interior Ministry reported that Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Director-General Gabriel Maimon "regretfully accepted" Sela's resignation.
"He actually formed the unit from the very beginning and accompanied it at all times since it started out at the start of July," the ministry said. Sela is slated to leave his post at the end of the month.
Sela said, "I answered a call to serve the State of Israel and I laid strong foundations in the Oz Unit, which does important work that cannot be matched – both on a national level and on a personal level. At this point, I feel I have given to the unit all I can and I would like to take on other professional routes in the private sector."
He thanked his superiors, and "the privilege given to me to form this important unit and the full support and determination in leading the process of enforcing the law of entrance to Israel."
Sela stressed that he would continue to assist the unit in any matter in the near and distant future.
Minister Yishai concluded, "This is one of the most unique and dedicated people in the public service. Tziki Sela is a public servant that is devoted to his goal above and beyond, to the good of the people of Israel and the State of Israel. I bid him farewell will great sadness, and I am hopeful that he will return to serve the public soon."
