On the way back, as I reflected on what happened and identified with the pain and frustration of one Jew trying to rebuild his life after the terrible Holocaust his generation suffered in Germany. After listening to him, I understood the seriousness of the problem and began to think about what I can do. What can I do for these poor Jews who suffer from the illegal infiltrators daily?
I visited south Tel Aviv several times thereafter and saw how the infiltrators threaten and instill fear in the whole neighborhood. I couldn’t believe this was happening in the Jewish state, in Israel. How did we get to the point where the infiltrators start up with every other girl who passes by? They make their parties and weddings on Shabbat. They steal and vandalize the batei knesset and turn them into brothels and bar rooms and feel free to do whatever they want. People living there feel they cannot live normally in their own country. They cannot leave their houses without an escort and they say there is a curfew beginning at 4 in the afternoon, when generally children are supposed to go to the playgrounds, since the infiltrators prevent them from doing so.
When I began to talk with other people about the situation, I saw they were not aware of the problem. And it hurt me more to realize that Jews living a mere 10-minute drive from where I live are suffering daily and so few people seem to care.
The whole reason for my writing this article is to open hearts and make more people aware of the suffering experienced daily, wherever the infiltrators are to be found – in south Tel Aviv, Eilat, Kiryat Malachi, Petach Tikva, Bnei Brak, Netanya and more. If we stand by and do nothing, this plague will stretch out throughout the country, as it happened in the past seven years.
After reading this article you might be asking yourself what you can do about it. You may think that the public does not have the power to make changes. Only the government does. Only the government has this power. But it is not true.
For example: If people would spend just a few minutes each day to expose others to this problem, then we’ve solved the first step of recognizing the problem and raising awareness.
Pressure must be exerted on the government to formulate an effective and quick solution, by demonstrations, through the media, and by bringing politicians to tour the areas involved and see for themselves. These infiltrators are migrant workers who came for work, not refugees, as many groups – whose best interests in the present government are not their first priorities – would have us believe.
Businesses should not hire illegal infiltrators. It can endanger the public health, whether in the food industry or in the workplace. This only encourages additional illegal immigration.
Strengthen the residents of south Tel Aviv.
When the infiltrators will understand that this can no longer continue, it will discourage them from staying in Israel.
Translated from the Hebrew by Ari Blackman.