Will foreign workers' kids get 'departure grant'?

Special government forum tasked with resolving controversial situation involving deportation of Israeli-born children of illegal foreign workers debates possibility of offering compensation

Yael Branovsky|Published: 09.09.09 , 00:35

The special interministerial forum tasked with resolving the status situation of children of illegal foreign workers convened Monday to discuss the state's options in the matter.

In late July, the Interior Ministry sought to deport foreign workers whose children were born in Israel, but the controversial decision – which stood to affect 1,200 children – was shelved after it sparked mass public protests.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked the Interior, Justice and Finance ministries with finding an acceptable solution to the situation within three months.

Monday's meeting saw forum members debate the deportation of 200 families with children ages six-years and under and the possibility of offering them compensatory payments.

Forum sources stressed the proposal was in its "very early stages," adding that the matter had to be studied further before the forum can bring it before the government.

The forum also discussed fines and levies against employees who contract illegal workers, as well as work visa dispensation.

Sources in the Treasury told Ynet that the subject of deporting children was not discusses and that the meeting centered on legal and punitive measures.

The Prime Minister's Office added that any personal views expressed by the ministers "do not reflect the prime minister's position. The subject has yet to be brought before him or before the government."

Social activists, however, still find it hard to understand the government's persistent focus on foreign workers' children: "If there are indeed 500,000 illegal foreign workers in Israel, why does the government insist on starting with children who were born here?" Sigal Rosen, of the Migrate Workers' Hotline wondered.

"If the government calls it a 'voluntary departure grant' why does the (Immigration Police's) Oz Unit badger families that don’t match the criteria? Their activity questions the entire voluntary departure process," she added.