Many sign petition against deportation of foreign workers' kids
Unprecedented coalition emerges to keep work immigrants' children in Israel. Advocates include educational institutions, youth movements, academics, student unions and social groups. Inter-ministerial committee to decide on matter by end of March
The fate of foreign workers' children who face deportation from Israel will soon be decided. The inter-ministerial committee that was commissioned to draft a recommendation regarding the 1,200 children of foreign workers will reach a decision by the end of the month, Ynet learned.
Meanwhile, a particularly long petition signed by various aid groups, artists and education figures calls upon the prime minister to prevent the deportation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to postpone the deportation and allow the children to complete the school year in Israel several months ago following a media uproar. Netanyahu instructed Interior Minister Eli Yishai to draft recommendations on the issue. For this purpose, a committee was created including representatives of the finance, welfare, education and justice ministries.
The committee convened for the second time on Wednesday and members invited social groups' reprsentatives to argue before it.
Foreign workers' kids at the beginning of the school year (Photo: Yaron Brener)
A wide and almost unparalleled coalition has emerged that is comprised of aid groups, leading educational institutions, academics, youth movements and student bodies, all of which signed a petition under the banner "There are no foreigners in education, you don't deport children."
The petition was sent to the prime minister and government ministers and was signed, among others, by singer Yehoram Gaon, poet Roni Somek and Israel Prize winner Dov Lautman.
"We agree that Israel's best interest requires a responsible and systematic immigration policy, but as stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and noted by the prime minister, the State's handling of children of work immigrants warrants special treatment," the petition noted.
"Israel is the only home they know…We call on you to lift the deportation threat."
Israeli Children Organization Chairman Ruth Ilan said, "I believe that the groundbreaking cooperation between so many organizations emphasizes the fact that the majority of the public is opposed to the children's deportation. The time has come that the government realizes this."
