Eli Yishai defends decision to expel 400 foreign workers' children.
By JPOST.COM STAFFInterior Minister Eli Yishai.(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) defended on Monday the expulsion of 400 children of foreign workers from Israel, saying "the children need to be told that the party's over. Is one of them going to stand up and cry?"Yishai claimed to know what was better for the children. "They have grandparents who want to see them," he said.RELATED:400 foreign workers' kids outUNICEF: Kid's expulsion violates rightsMK Ilan Gilon (Meretz) responded harshly, calling Yishai a "racist primitive," and alleging that foreign workers' children participate in the army more than Yishai's children.While 400 children of foreign workers will be expelled, 800 children and their families were granted the right to stay in Israel after they show that they fulfill the five criteria established by the cabinet to separate those children to be expelled from Israel and those who should be allowed to remain in the country due to their already strong ties within Israeli society.Sunday morning saw the first wave of foreign workers’ families arrive at the Interior Ministry office in Tel Aviv to submit applications they hope will allow them to remain in the country.Ron Friedman contributed to this report.
