By Yael Branovsky, YNet News, December 24th, 2009
Every year the Interior Ministry announces a temporary suspension of deportation activities during the Christian holiday season. This year, however, they have decided to continue with business as usual. Foreign workers are worried that Oz Unit officers may arrest them Thursday and ruing their holiday plans.
The Hotline for Migrant Workers responded in outrage and said that they will not let the decision go without a response. The hotline reported that dozens of activists are planning on attending the Christmas festivities Thursday in order "to fight any attempt at ruining the community's celebrations."
The hotline added, "The Oz Unit is breaking a record in inhumanity. The immigration police, who have never been known for its gentleness or mercy, have never made arrests on Christmas. This is a first rate religious holiday for thousands of Christian migrants in Israel, and damaging their freedom of worship is a moral stain on Israeli society."
The hotline claimed that the unit has reached "an unprecedented moral low" after its officers raided a church this week and arrested six foreigners. The taskforce claimed that the church is a hideout for foreigners.
Pastor Salomon, from the African Church in Tel Aviv told Ynet that he was worried people would not come to his church. "It is important to me for people to come, but I also understand them. They are simply afraid of leaving the house because the police have not announced this year that there won't be arrests."
According to him, "Every year, people come to church, and we celebrate out holidays undisturbed. Perhaps they simply don't understand how important it is for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus."
'Christmas is a time to promote brotherhood'
Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov called up Interior Minister Eli Yishai to instruct the Oz Unit to avoid enforcement actions while exercising state considerations and preventing moves that will stain Israel's image in the world.
"Christmas is a time to promote prosperity, brotherhood, and peace among nations and to call believers to visit the Holy Land as a bridge to peace and dialogue among nations."
The Interior Ministry reported in response that the Oz Unit's operations will continue as per usual and that no special operations are planned.
Director General of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism Rabbi Gilad Kariv responded with indignation.
"The Interior Ministry's intention to continue arrest as per usual is another step in moral obtuseness and losing the way. In a Jewish and democratic state, including in the manner in which immigration policies are implemented, red lines must be set that bear witness to the recognition of God's image in every person, even if he does not have a legal permit to stay in Israel."
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