Art exhibit organizers: Look them in the eyes, Eli Yishai

The forum is composed of various civilian groups advocating against the deportation of children, sons and daughters of foreign workers, who were born in Israel. The children are slated to be deported back to their parents' home countries, most from the third world that are stricken with hunger, poverty, disease, and sometimes even war.

From the exhibit: Childhood in the Shadow of Deportation (Photo: Tomer Biran)

The project includes a series of photographed portraits of some 100 children of foreign workers from various countries in Africa, the Philippines, Nepal, India. For the exhibit, the exhibit's curator, Tali Tamir, collected photographs taken by five photographers – Tili Sharon, Oren Biran, Meir Maman, Tai Lomas, and Noa Maiman. The photos will be shown at the Contemporary by Golconda gallery, that was donated to this cause by art dealer, Ronny Porrer.

"The idea behind the project is to raise public awareness about the status of foreign workers' children who live among us, for whom the threat of deportation from their country and their motherland is currently looming above their heads," explained Maiman, a director, actress, photographer, and producer who volunteers for the Forum of Israeli Children. She is an activist in the campaign against deporting the children.

Childhood in the Shadow of Deportation (Photo: Tomer Biran)

"The photographs of the children demonstrate the behind the decision making, setting the immigration policy, the number of children and the dry statistics, there are children with faces, unique identities and feelings," said Maiman.

Maiman wrote and directed the documentary film "Oy, Mama" together with Orna Ben Dor, that recounts the emotional story of her grandmother who survived the Holocaust thanks to a Polish woman who hid her and her family. Her grandmother adopted a four-year-old Peruvian girl who was born in Israel as a tribute for the acts of righteousness that saved her life during the Holocaust. The girl's father is currently being detained.

'I plead that he come and meet them'

"In the struggle to stave off deportation, we managed to provide three months of breathing space for these children," explained Maiman. "Now we are trying to gain them permanent status (in Israel). To give them the legal right to live in the country they were born in."

Childhood in the Shadow of Deportation (Photo: Tomer Biran)

"The objective of the exhibit is first and foremost to make Israeli citizens look the children up for deportation in the eyes," added Rotem Eyal, one of the campaign's leaders. "The importance of this objective is only strengthened in light of the fact that Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who is supposed to make a decision on the issue and talks a lot about it, has not bothered to meet with these children even once."

According to Ilan, "The reason for this is very clear. The moment he meets them, hears the fluent Hebrew coming out of their mouths, sees the Israeli culture coming through in all of their actions, he simply will not be able to continue with his intention to deport them. I plead with him to come and meet them."

Spokesman for Minister Yishai, Roi Nahmanovich, said in response: "Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Eli Yishai was never invited to meet with any child and certainly does not accept such invitations via the media, whose only purpose is to be published."

In response to Ynet's question whether the interior minister ever met with any of the foreign workers' children, Nahmonivich said, "I will check and will get back to you when I have an answer."

• The exhibit "Childhood in the Shadow of Deportation" is being shown at the Contemporary by Golconda Gallery, 117 Herzl St, Tel Aviv, from October 18-19, 2009. Entrance is free. Additional details can be obtained by visiting the gallery's website or by calling 03-6822777.
  

• The Israeli Children Forum is operated entirely by volunteers. To volunteer or to make a donation, send an email to israeli.children@gmail.com