Foreign Workers and Asylum Seekers

You’d think that was enough for one day, but actually, after we left Sderot we went back to Tel Aviv to have lunch at the boardwalk along the Mediterranean and then we spoke to Jean-Marc. Jean-Marc is a lawyer who works with the foreign worker population and asylum seekers. He said that although many people lump these groups together, they really are quite distinct. Many foreign workers came to Israel after the Territories were closed for security reasons and it became difficult, if not impossible, for Palestinians to enter Israel to work. Most foreign workers entered Israel legally but have stayed since their work permits expired since they have started a life here. We walked through the central bus station which is sort of a microcosm of the populations—many Sudanese and Eritrean—and filled with all kinds of shops. We also took a short walk along a pedestrian mall and entered a former homeless shelter that is now a popular bar for Eritreans. It was obvious when we walked in that Jean-Marc was well-known among the patrons.