The Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities, directly referring to Ashkelon’s ban Arab workers in the area of kindergartens, stated Thursday that the law specifically bans such discrimination.
Tziona Koenig-Yair stated, “During these difficult times, I expect employers to exercise responsibility and leadership to encourage tolerance and equal opportunities, and not exclusion, particularly local authorities such as the Ashkelon municipality, which publicized that it has terminated the employment of Arabs in the municipality, a step which breaks the Equal Opportunities Law.
She said her department “has received a not insignificant number of requests regarding employers firing or wishing to terminate the employment of Arab male and female employees, solely on racial grounds” but that the Equal Opportunities Law “clearly prohibits employers from discriminating against their employees on account of their race, ethnic origin or religion.”
She added, “Local authorities also have public responsibility towards all their residents, Jews and Arabs alike.
“Such authorities must show leadership and act to calm the storm, and not take collective action which may fan the flames. We all need to work together to improve the situation, and continue to work towards equality and tolerance for all citizens of the State of Israel, both Jews and Arabs.”