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Hundreds rally for foreign workers' kids in Tel Aviv
Protest against deportation held in Tel Aviv ahead of final decision on future of foreign workers' children in Israel
Hundreds of people protested in Tel Aviv Saturday, calling on the government to grant citizenship to 1,200 foreign workers' children facing deportation from Israel.
The protestors carried signs reading "Israeli kids – Israeli citizenship" and "No to deportation."
The demonstration was held as the government prepares to reach a final decision regarding the children's future in Israel. An inter-ministerial committee is slated to submit its recommendations to Interior Minister Eli Yishai and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within several weeks.
One protestor who declined to be named, the 12-year-old daughter to Filipino parents who was born in Israel and visited her parents' homeland only once, said: "It is strange to me that they want to deport me there. I don't know anything in that country. I was born here and feel that my home is here."
Gabriel Bourdon, an activist in the Israeli Children Organization said that the community is much more Israeli than is generally thought.
"Their whole thinking is based on what happens in Israel and our goal is to show that to the public," he said.
Knesset Member Dov Khenin also participated in the protest, which also featured a song written by singer Ivry Lider and journalist Guy Meroz and recorded with the participation of the children and such figures as Minister Avishay Braverman and MK Yuli Tamir.
