Gillerman 'ashamed' of deportation plan

Israel's former UN ambassador, Dan Gillerman, joins protest of plan to deport 400 foreign workers' kids, says he is thankful not to be representing Israel. 'Such a cruel move presents Israel as our enemies desire,' he says

Yael Branovsky|Published: 09.07.10 , 20:11

Some 400 people demonstrated on Tuesday against the deportation of 400 foreign workers' kids following reports that the procedure will commence directly after the holiday period.

The protestors carried signs reading, "Deport Eli Yishai" and "Each one is like family to me."

Israel's former ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, attended the protest and told Ynet that the deportation could cause enormous damage to Israel. "Even if it happens, and I hope it doesn't, I will be thanking God that I am not the one representing Israel at this time," he said.

Gillerman added that during his stint at the UN he made great efforts to show Israel's positive side. "Such a move will destroy years of work and will present Israel as our enemies desire. This move is wrong and cruel and has elements which Judaism prohibits. I, as an Israeli, am ashamed."

Poets Roni Somek, Agi Mishol and Yehuda Atlas will be reading poems against the deportation during the protest.

Immigration Authority officials said Tuesday that they have not planned any special operations ahead of the deportation and noted that the 30-day countdown for those leaving voluntarily had begun on September 1. Migrants who have asked to stay and were rejected will have 30 days to leave the country beginning on the day their applications were rejected.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai sent a harsh letter to the attorney general on Tuesday demanding that an investigation be launched against Yoel Marshak, a senior official at the Kibbutz Movement who offered to hide kids facing deportation. "One cannot remain silent in the face of such a message of incitement and rebellion," Yishai wrote.