Tel Aviv rally: Human rights – not at our expense

Right-wing activists, led by Baruch Marzel, march in protest against overflow of infiltrators. Human rights activists meet them with signs reading 'Yesterday you were refugees, today you are racists'

Yoav Malka|Published: 12.11.11 , 20:13

Some 100 right-wing activists marched in south Tel Aviv Sunday evening to protest against the influx of migrants, mainly from Africa, just hours after the government approved a plan designated to address the issue.

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The protesters, led by Baruch Marzel, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ari (National Union), marched under heavy police security from HaHagana Street to Levinsky Park while waving signs reading "Netanyahu is a big talker" and "Human rights – not at our expense."

At Levinsky Park, the protesters were met by a group of activists promoting the rights of foreign workers in Israel. The activists carried signs reading "Yesterday you were refugees, today you are racists."

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan, which still awaits the Knesset's approval, corporations who hire illegal refugees will be given a fine of up to NIS 75,000 ($20,074) and their business could face closure. In addition, the plan will be amended to extend the detention of infiltrators from 60 days to three years.

To finance the NIS 630 million ($168 million) plan, each government ministry will be forced to cut 2% from its budget, including the Defense Ministry, which will allocate some NIS 300 million ($80 million) per year for the project.