Right sponsors self-defense course in south TA

Residents get self-defense lessons at local park to deal with 'growing violence instigated by African migrants.' Flyer signed by MK Ben-Ari, Barch Marzel reads: Our blood has been let

Gilad Morag|Published: 06.08.12 , 09:01

Dozens of residents of south Tel Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood and a number of extreme right-wing activists gathered at a local park on Thursday for what they referred to as self-defense lessons aimed at protecting them from violence instigated by African migrants.

The past few weeks have seen tensions between the residents and migrants boil over, and some protests against the government's handling of the influx of African migrants into Tel Aviv's southern neighborhoods turned violent.

הקורס. חי ובועט (צילום: ירון ברנר)

'Every infiltrator poses a threat.' (Photo: Yaron Brener)

Flyers disseminated in south Tel Aviv invited the residents to attend the course amid "recent cases of rape, purse snatching and assaults on children – and police are nowhere to be seen. Our blood has been let."

The flyers were signed by extreme rightist Baruch Marzel and Knesset Member Michael Ben-Ami (National Union).

"We are here to give people the tools to deal with the reality on the ground," MK Ben-Ari said during the first lesson. "The crime rate here is increasing – wallets and necklaces are being stolen, and the police can't handle the situation. The (leftists) are not familiar with the dangerous reality here. People have lost their sense of personal security, and we will bring it back – for self-defense purposes only."

South Tel Aviv resident Yitzhak Omrad said, "Every infiltrator poses a threat," while another resident said he would train his dog "to protect my family."

Naomi Elimelech told reporters, "It pains me to see the entire country filling up with foreigners. I want them out of here."

Another resident said, "What do I need these self-defense lessons for? I can always hit someone in the head with my bicycle chain."