Decision on status of foreign workers' kids delayed

Some 30 children of migrant workers held a protest outside the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday while the cabinet discussed the question of their deportation. The demonstration was organized by the Israeli Children's foundation. The discussion eventually ended without a vote leaving the kids on edge for yet another week.

The activists and children made a last-minute attempt in order to voice their concern over the short space of time allotted them to submit their requests to stay in Israel in accordance with criteria set by an inter-ministerial committee discussing the matter.

The aid groups supporting the cause estimated that due to the problem more than half of the kids will be eventually deported, despite the fact that 800 of the 1,200 were entitled to stay in the country. Ministers estimated that the inter-ministerial committee's recommendations will be favored in the vote despite several misgivings and amendments some have regarding the law.

The children held signs which read "I have no birth certificate – I'll get deported" and "I was missing only one document – I'll get deported." Some of the children wore yellow ribbons to express their support of the protest for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, which was held nearby.

Children protest outside PM's Office (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Minister for Minority Affairs Avishay Braverman stepped out of the meeting to inform the protestors of requests he made on their behalf. Braverman said he asked the prime minister to introduce several amendments to the law, including an extension of the time period for the submitall of the papers from 21 days to 90 days and the creation of an exceptions committee for special cases – a demand made by the aid groups.

The minister also asked Netanyahu to apply the decision to children in pre-school kindergartens, as the committee recommended that only children registered into schools could stay in Israel. Braverman noted there were 80 children in such kindergartens and explained that "In Israel's current international status, it would be unwise to deport the foreign workers' kids and be subject to negative press."

Kids like Israel's amusement park

Braverman also conversed with the kids and asked them what they liked about Israel. "Bread and the amusement park," they responded.

Welfare and Social Services Minister Isaac Herzog also addressed the issue prior to the cabinet meeting and said, "One must remember the order of ' 'the foreigner who lives with you as the native-born among you'."

Herzog made the statement in response to Interior Minister Eli Yihshai who noted, "There are no good guys and bad guys here. There's a lot of hypocrisy. No one is deporting children. The parents are welcome to return to their countries after a long trip. They are using the children as human shields and by the same token thousands of workers from Sudan and Eritrea will come (to Israel)."

Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report

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