It is no small irony that a country like the United States that was built by and prospered because of immigration would come to regard the influx of foreigners to our shores as a problem. That is also true of the State of Israel which, much to its surprise, has found itself being swamped by unwelcome African migrants who have poured over the border with Egypt and presented the Israeli government with a ticklish dilemma. Anger about the influx bubbled over yesterday in a Tel Aviv protest that turned violent and where both demonstrators and some politicians in attendance uttered statements that could only be characterized as racist. Prime Minister Netanyahu was quick to condemn the tone of the protest as well as members of his own party for behavior that he rightly said “had no place” in the country.
That such sentiments were given a public airing will be fodder for Israel haters. But once we condemn the protest, it must be admitted that the idea that tiny Israel should be considered the solution for African poverty is absurd. There are currently approximately 70,000 illegal African immigrants in Israel, roughly one for every 100 Israelis—Jew and Arab alike. In such a small country, that’s a large burden for Israelis to carry. If Americans are upset about undocumented immigrants in this country, the uproar in Israel isn’t hard to understand. Moreover, unlike the bulk of illegal immigration into the United States, the Africans are not merely a function of an economic cycle in which Mexicans and other Central Americans cross the border to fill low-paying jobs such as farm work. The Africans are refugees from war and famine in East African nations like Sudan and Eritrea, who not unnaturally see democratic and prosperous Israel as a haven from suffering that they cannot find anywhere else in the region. It’s also true that unlike the nations they pass through on their way to Israel, the Jewish state has treated newcomers with compassion.
Those who are quick to accuse Israel of racism should remember that it went to great trouble and expense to facilitate the mass immigration of tens of thousands of black Jews from Ethiopia in the past generation. Though the absorption of these immigrants has been a bumpy road for many, the nation took great pride in their coming and has done its often-inadequate best to care for them.
The Jewish tradition of caring for the homeless and the stranger has created a large degree of sympathy for the African migrants in Israel. But while it was possible for the country to take in the initial small numbers who found their way there, including those seeking political asylum, now that the rate is up to 1,000 new illegals a month, the situation has gotten out of hand. Israel simply hasn’t the ability to care for or employ that many people who have no ties to the place.
Moreover, no matter how immigrant-friendly Israel may be, any nation has the right and the duty to police its borders. As is the case with America’s southern border, there are no easy or simple solutions–people who want to come will find a way to get in. But no nation can be expected to just simply accept such a situation, especially when it brings with it a rise in crime and other social pathologies. Though nothing justifies some of the unfortunate statements made yesterday in Tel Aviv, Israel has a right to ask those who arrive without permission to leave and to ensure that those illegals who keep coming are kept out.
There are currently approximately 70,000 illegal African immigrants in Israel, roughly one for every 100 Israelis–Jew and Arab alike. On a proportionate basis, that’s almost three times the number of illegals in the United States. If Americans are upset about 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country, imagine the uproar if the numbers were inflated to that level. n nI think you need to revisit your math on that. By your own numbers there are 4 times as many illegals in the US in proportion to the population than in Israel. And why are the immigrants being discussed "illegal" in Israel but "undocumented" in the US?
"There are currently approximately 70,000 illegal African immigrants in Israel, roughly one for every 100 Israelis–Jew and Arab alike. On a proportionate basis, that’s almost three times the number of illegals in the United States." n nWrong. n n70,000 African migrants / 7,600,000 Israelis = 0.92% n12,000,000 illegal aliens in America / 312,000,000 Americans = 3.85% n nThe percentage of African migrants in the total Israeli population is less than a fourth of the percentage of illegals in America, not "almost three times" as many. In any case, I'm not going to hold my breath for an article in Commentary along the lines of "America can't solve Asia and Latin America's problems" anytime soon.
What bothers me, is when american jobs, the few positions which cannot be oursourced overseas is filled with foreign applicants who are waiting for job and visa all in one. That is exactly what has transpired, for example in us healthcare. Rather than hire an american registered nurse, hospitals opt to sponsor a foreign national. They get paid the same as everyone else and can earn 100k/yr. What is more, they quickly learn that it is acceptable to abuse americans, specifically caucasian or jewish americans. I know what they do on a micro scale. If the staff is 90% newcomer, they establish a mafia which targets americans for abuse and corrective action through planned mass complaints or setting up individuals to fail. Use of pressure techniques, hoping to cause depression and of course, the goal is to have the person quit if all else fails. Management does not care and will aid the mafia by treating americans by way of a double standard, almost terminating an employee for a tiny infraction which would be of no consequence for any other person. Yes, it is blatant. What Mr. Tobin describes in Israel is a different situation. In the US, these people are displacing americans, and they enjoy beating us up. The only way to put a stop to it is….
I wonder if those immigrants committing crimes in Israel were criminals in their native countries. Besides, aren't most crimes in Israel committed by native Israelis? nElie, are you saying there is a "mafia" of Filipino nurses? Gosh, wouldn't the ones at our local hospital (a minority of nurses) love to hear that! n n
I agree completely. Similarly, the US cannot fix the rest of the world by importing 1 to 2 million people a year. Americans have the same and responsibility to restrict immigration based on national interest that Israelis do.
When you write,r n” Though nothing justifies some of the unfortunate statements made yesterday in Tel Aviv, “r none needs to bear in mind that what caused the the situation to explode was the rape of some young girls.
Here is how you solve the problem: The immigrants have a right to be protected from violence so Israel cannot deport them because they will be attacked in their home country. On the other hand, Israel has the right to police its borders. Solution: Israel send a peacekeeping force to South Sudan to prevent attacks on these people. Then send them back and they will be safe in their own country. Problem solved.
Remember that these "immigrants" have passed through countries ruled by their Moslem brothers where they face death or worse if caught. I have felt all along that the Africans are being herded towards Israel. It is a win-win situation for Israel's enemies: diminish Israel's Jewish majority with still more Moslems, use resources that Israel needs for its own citizens, and have an opportunity to criticize Israel for rejecting impoverished black Africans. Judithe
I agree with the author that Israel has every right to limit the number of refugees it accepts. But I disagree with the headline. Israel can in fact solve Africa's problems, but not by accepting immigrants. n nWhat are Africa's problems? Most African countries lack an effective administrative state, capable of providing security, ensuring the state's control over its territory, resolving disputes peacefully and legally, and providing education and health care consistently to the population. The Israeli Defense Forces are probably the most effective armed forces in the world. With technical assistance from the IDF and other government agencies, many African countries could stop the problem of paramilitaries and lawlessness, and set up adequate security forces, courts, schools and hospitals. Once African countries have the administrative infrastructure, social stability will emerge and the economy will take off. n
(continued) nThis would be the ideal expression of the Jewish people's mission to be a light to the nations. The Bible actually describes setting up various levels of courts (at the urging of Yitro/Jethro) and outlaws corruption, and by Talmudic times communities had set up their own schools, achieving universal literacy. This basic administrative structure, the foundation of stable and prosperous societies, has not yet taken hold in much of Africa because of corruption and lack of funds. With administrative help from efficient and honest bureaucracies such as Israel's, the countries can eliminate corruption and raise enough taxes to finance an effective administrative state. This would be a kiddush Hashem on a world-historical scale. Difficult, but do-able, and worth doing.