It’s a problem in all countries. Immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees, etc. Whatever name they are called, countries don’t know what to do with them. In Tel Aviv, we spent a full afternoon at a Mechina called Bina, which is built right in the middle of one of the oldest neighborhoods across from the central bus station.
Beginning in the 1990s, waves of immigrants, at first from Asia and now Africa, came to Israel and many have settled in this neighborhood. As the large number of immigrants took up residence here, their presence drove out many of the original members of the community. Today it is an immigrant neighborhood that is causing problems for Israel.
The Africans who have come to Israel are asylum seekers. So many of them have come that Israel decided to give them asylum as a group rather than as individuals, and they have become a source of conflict. For example, the government takes care of them, but they don’t contribute back by paying taxes, etc. Another source of conflict is that these immigrants take low-paying jobs away from the lower end of the working class. The challenges of immigration are familiar to Americans, since we are a country of immigrants. The issues and dilemmas have plagued us, too. On the other hand, Israel is a Jewish country and the most recent immigrants are not. Israel is faced with the issue of what to with them, without compromising Zionism.
Later that day, we sat with our Israeli friends from Beit Shean in smaller groups and discussed what actions Israel could take to try to resolve the immigrant issue. Opinions from both Israeli and American members of my smaller group varied significantly. One Israeli, Tamar, felt that Israel should help the immigrants more because as the Jewish nation it is our duty to help people in need. An American, Monica, said that while Israel should help these people, the point of Israel is to be a home for the Jews, and there is a certain line that Israel shouldn’t cross.
We debated back and forth for a long time, but in the end no solution was found.
Just like all the other problems in Israel, there is no “sound byte” solution.