'End northerners hypocrisy.' Rally in Tel Aviv
Photo: Ofer Amram
Dozens of residents of neighborhoods in south Tel Aviv called on the government to revive a shelved plan according to which foreign workers would be prohibited from residing in central Israel.
Deportation Threat
Government's continued debate regarding possibility of deporting Israeli-born children of illegal foreign workers sparks yet another demonstration as 100 people gather in Tel Aviv to protest
One of the organizers of the rally in south Tel Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood said the current situation was intolerable.
"They (foreign workers) are taking our jobs and our personal security is being compromised – young girls are afraid to walk the streets," Oren Zargari told Ynet Monday evening.
"Those who claim that it is immoral to deport the foreign workers can take them to their posh neighborhoods in north Tel Aviv," he said.
Another protestor said, "This is a small country, and it feels as though we are in Africa. It pains me to see the level of education in our schools drop, as is the quality of life.
"Being a woman I'm afraid to walk around here at night," said Rachel Harari.
However, other residents were not as quick to blame the foreign workers for the area's problems.
"The drug deals that take place near our home are a much bigger nuisance than our foreign neighbors," said a woman who moved to Hatikva a year ago, "They are harmless."
A resident of Yad Eliyahu, another south Tel Aviv neighborhood, said the foreign workers who come to Israel are "amazing people."