"We need to take immediate emergency action to guard state borders from illegal infiltration," Ron Huldai tells Netanyahu.
By JPOST.COM STAFFafrican migrants 311 R(photo credit: Mohammed Salem / Reuters)
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday to address the problematic influx of African refugees into the city."We need to take immediate emergency action to guard the state borders from illegal immigration and infiltration, as is expected from all sovereign countries," Huldai wrote in a letter to the prime minister.RELATED:The foreign workers’ ‘Catch-22'"At the same time, the state must take responsibility for immigrants already inside the country and grant the necessary resources to treat them and also the harsh conditions residents of [their] neighborhoods must deal with in their absorption.""The State of Israel cannot continue to avoid the growing surge of infiltrators when it is clear to all that they are immigrating for work [purposes] and are not in existential danger," Huldai explained.
Netanyahu, who inspected the issue of illegal immigration during his trip to Eilat last week, addressed the topic during Sunday morning's cabinet meeting."I consider this phenomena a threat to our economy, society, security and also to the demographic fabric that the State of Israel is still based upon," the prime minister said, adding that anyone who employs an illegal resident will face significant fines.
