Mondoweiss, February 28, 2011 The Huffington Post, February 28, 2011 It’s big news here in Israel that “Strangers No More“– a documentary film that focuses on a South Tel Aviv school attended by zarim, Hebrew for foreigners or strangers–has won an Oscar. “Thank you most of all to the exceptional immigrant and refugee children from …
Al Jazeera English, January 22, 2011 There was that jarring week in December—a protest against Arab-Jewish couples, a South Tel Aviv march and demonstration against migrant workers and African asylum seekers, the arrest of Jewish teenagers accused of beating Palestinians, and the expulsion of five Arab men from their home in South Tel Aviv. It …
Al Jazeera English, January 9, 2011 On a recent Monday, over 200 Jewish Israelis rallied in Bat Yam, a suburb of Tel Aviv under the banner of Keep Bat Yam Jewish. The demonstrators, most of whom were religious and strikingly young, were there to protest romantic relationships between Arabs and Jews, particularly those between Arab …
The Guardian, December 8, 2010 Over 50 of Israel’s leading rabbis have issued a religious decree forbidding Jews from renting or selling homes or land to non-Jews—namely, Arabs, migrant workers, and African refugees. The letter was signed by rabbis across the country—many of who are employed by the state as municipal religious leaders—and urged Jews …
The Jerusalem Post, August 27, 2010 In the past several weeks, Israel’s Nepali community has hosted a flurry of events to entertain and support its workers. Nepali artists performed at two of the events put on by Namaste Entertainment, a Kathmandu-based organization that aims to give migrant workers temporary relief from difficult circumstances while promoting …
The Jerusalem Post, August 20, 2010 As Shabbat drew to a close Saturday, more than 2000 protestors marched against the deportation of migrant workers’ children. On August 1, the Israeli cabinet adopted criteria that will make 800 children eligible for naturalization, subjecting another 400 to deportation. Observers have pointed out that many minors who seem …
The Jerusalem Post, August 13, 2010 Despite the imminent deportation of 400 migrant workers’ children, South Tel Aviv’s black market kindergartens are still up and running. Sometimes referred to as “pirate kindergartens” or “babysitters,” this is where most of the kids who face expulsion spend their days. Many of the older children who meet the …
The Huffington Post, August 3, 2010 Maan News Agency, August 4, 2010 After a year-long battle over the fate of 1200 children of undocumented migrant workers, the Israeli cabinet has finalized plans that will lead to the deportation of at least 400 minors, along with their parents. The government also approved criteria that would make …
The Guardian, July 20, 2010 Michelle is the 14-year-old daughter of undocumented migrant laborers from the Philippines. In fluent Hebrew, she sums up the inhumanity of Israel’s plans to deport children of foreign workers. “It’s like they’re taking sheep and packing them,” she says, comparing the expulsion to herding animals. While Michelle will probably be naturalized, …
The Jerusalem Post, December 25, 2009 Zara’s display of a Christmas tree sparked controversy and anger throughout Israel last week. Following complaints from the public, the Spain-based fashion chain changed their window decorations, removing symbols associated with the Christian holiday and, in some places, adding candlesticks to mark the local holiday. A post-chanukah stop at …