Ashdod rally: Infiltrators behind surge in violence

Residents say refugees from Sudan, Eritrea behind rise in violent incidents. 'We are very afraid,' they say

Shmulik Hadad|Published: 08.29.10 , 22:20

Several dozen residents of Ashdod's Quarter Two neighborhood gathered on Sunday to protest against the settling of some 1,000 refugees from Sudan and Eritrea in the area over the past few months.

Foreign migrants were involved in a recent murder that took place in the neighborhood, and residents say the number of violent incidents has increased as a result of their presence.

"We are scared. There is violence, stabbings. They are harming our quality of life," said Ravit Yona, chairwoman of the neighborhood committee.

Omri Yeshayahu, an Ethiopian oleh who lives in the area, said, "I have no problem with people coming to this country to escape hardship and political persecution, but this is not the situation here. We came here from Ethiopia because we were persecuted, and now I feel as though I am being persecuted in my own neighborhood.

"People mistake the Ethiopians for Eritreans and call us names. There are also tensions with the Sudanese, who harassed us after we made aliyah. We are very afraid," he said.

Chen, who traveled from Tel Aviv to attend the meeting, told those on hand, "You have to wage war, or this will never end. I see what is happening in south Tel Aviv where the foreigners have taken over our neighborhoods. The government lives in a bubble and is not working to rectify the situation."

Veronique, a resident of the neighborhood, noted that "there is also a problem of assimilation. Fifteen year old girls are hanging out with them (foreigners)."

Following the meeting, the residents decided to request that the City of Ashdod refrain from issuing business licenses to people who had infiltrated into Israel and ask landlords not to rent out apartments to them.