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Tikva Councillor: Rage Born from Years of Frustration

Gal Sharabi said the violence that boiled over following an anti-immigration rally in Tel Aviv comes after years of frustration

By Gabe Kahn 5/24/2012, 6:42 PM


Hatikva's Rage Boils Over

Gal Sharabi of the Tikva neighborhood in south Tel Aviv told Arutz Sheva that the violence that boiled over following a rally to deport illegal immigrants comes after "years of frustration."

"If this demonstration achieved its goal or not, I don't know. We will have to look to the coming days," Sharabi, who represents his neighborhood on the Tel Aviv city council, said. "Today people have no income and no apartments.

Illegal aliens have taken over the whole region."

"The Tikva neighborhood has become a city of illegal immigrants. People are afraid to walk the streets at night," he added.

"We are not racists. In fact, our children learn in schools with children of illegal immigrants. But recently, the violence by illegal aliens has increased.

"They purchase homes at inflated prices because they live ten in a room and have no problem paying. It raises the prices, and the young couples cannot afford apartment. They open businesses without a permits, and it takes away a lot of jobs.

"But most of the anger comes from crime and violence," he said.

Sharabi says Wednesday night's rally is the first time he saw real anger burning in the eyes of his constituents.

"It's not racism, but a very bad feeling that you have lost your home," he said. "People who were born here cannot live here anymore."

"What happened after last night's demonstration was not good. We are against violence," he said. "But the government must step in and take responsibility for south Tel Aviv."
"I just hope this doesn't herald a long wave of violence," Sharabi added.

Over 1,000 gathered for a rally in the Tikva neighborhood to demand the government enforce immigration laws and begin deporting illegal aliens.

After the rally some protesters smashed windows, lit garbage cans on fire, and damaged a car that had three illegal aliens in it. No one was hurt in the incident. On Thursday police arrested 12 people on suspicion of attacking the vehicle, and running riot.

Left-wing politicians and activists used the incident to mount calls for an investigation into several nationalist lawmakers who spoke at the rally for incitement.

However, witnesses say the vast majority of protesters who attended the rally both arrived and departed peacefully.

Nonetheless, Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin – who acknowledged the serious illegal immigration problem Israel faces – called on lawmakers to "guard their words" and instead focus on formulating a practical solution.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday promised deportations would begin “soon.”

Meanwhile, two illegal aliens from Africa were indicted on Thursday for the brutal rape of an Israeli woman in south Tel Aviv over the weekend.
Tikva Rage Born from Years of Frustration - Inside Israel - News - Israel National News


Netanyahu: Deportations to Begin 'Soon'

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said his government will begin enforcing Israel's immigration laws soon; calls for calm in Tel Aviv

Netanyahu: Deportations to Begin 'Soon' - Inside Israel - News - Israel National News