On Friday, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert joined the calls to reverse the government's decision to expel hundreds of children, saying that allowing the children to stay would not have any negative effects as far as the State of Israel's Jewish values are concerned.
"I am in favor of tightening security along the southern border to prevent infiltrations, but children and their parents who are already here should stay," Olmert said.
"Claims according to which they spread disease are ridiculous. Allowing the children to remain in Israel is the humane thing to do."
Olmert's wife, Aliza, has long since called to grant the children of foreign workers permanent residency status, but Olmert's administration avoided making any decisions on the matter.
Earlier this week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse the decision and allow the children to remain in Israel.
Barak, who was abroad during the cabinet vote on the issue, said, "The State of Israel cannot expel hundreds of children. It is not Jewish or humane and will leave Israeli society scarred."