African migrant strike in Israel

[bricolage]

Thousands of African migrants in Israel began marching from Levinsky park in south Tel Aviv to the embassies of the United States and other countries Monday morning, continuing the protest that began Sunday.

They are demanding foreign governments exert pressure on Israel to recognize them as refugees, stop arresting them and free those imprisoned.

Some of the embassies they are marching to include France, Britain and Canada. They are also marching to the United Nations Refugee Agency, waving Eritrean flags and holding signs saying "No More Prison" and "Freedom."

The migrants, many of whom are menial laborers in Israel, began a three-day strike Sunday to protest Israeli government policy. Tens of thousands of African migrants went on strike on Sunday, disrupting the normal operation of many businesses, primarily restaurants, cafes, hotels, and cleaning services.http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.567265

Has anyone been following this? I think it's very interesting not just because of the numbers of people involved (I'm see 'tens of thousands') mentioned in a lot of places but also in that it's taken the form of a three day strike - the kind of thing that most unions could only dream of organising. That being said it's of course important to see what those involved have to say about it being a strike:


“Our strike is not an act against the employers but a form of protest,” said the statement released by human rights activists involved in the protest. “We are aware of the risk of striking, that we are liable to lose our jobs and our incomes. This step is meant to clarify to Israelis society: We fled here because of the danger to our lives in our countries of origin. We are seeking political asylum. Like every person, we also want to earn an income so we can live in dignity – but work is not the reason we came to Israel.”http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.567097

I also think it's interesting in terms of how it fits into the policies of the Israeli state. The BBC report was keen to stress that Israel sees 'illegal' immigration differently to other states as an influx of non-Jewish migrants could be seen as a demographic threat to the existence of a Jewish state and this could especially be the case considering how far right the current Israeli government is. However I also remember reading a while ago that increased immigration was at times encouraged as it could make up for the decline of the labour force that resulted from increased controls on Palestinians entering Israel after the Second Intifada. If the state is now looking to decrease that imported labour force through deportation how is this likely to affect the economy of Israel? Has the economic downturn meant that Israeli citizens are now being pushed into jobs that were previously seen as below them and only to be filled by Palestinians or non-Israeli immigrants? I'm not sure about this last bit which is why it's a question but it's one theory I had on the matter.

[guy123]

Hi, I from Israel.


http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.567265

Has anyone been following this? I think it's very interesting not just because of the numbers of people involved (I'm see 'tens of thousands') mentioned in a lot of places but also in that it's taken the form of a three day strike - the kind of thing that most unions could only dream of organising. That being said it's of course important to see what those involved have to say about it being a strike:

Just because you hear the word 'strike', don't be fooled by it. It's not the working class vs the bosses type of strike. It's the bosses sending their workers to fight for them against the gov't plan to deport them. Don't be fooled, the restaurants bosses aren't doing it for 'humanitarian reasons', it's because they want to continue to use cheap labor, since the other sources, mainly Palestinian and Russian, has dried up. Of course, in this case the interests of the migrant labor and (part of the) bosses are temporarily the same against the state policy.
We, as communists, demand solidarity with migrant labor, end to deportations, give them full citizenship right, including equal pay and social benefits.



http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.567097

I also think it's interesting in terms of how it fits into the policies of the Israeli state. The BBC report was keen to stress that Israel sees 'illegal' immigration differently to other states as an influx of non-Jewish migrants could be seen as a demographic threat to the existence of a Jewish state and this could especially be the case considering how far right the current Israeli government is. However I also remember reading a while ago that increased immigration was at times encouraged as it could make up for the decline of the labour force that resulted from increased controls on Palestinians entering Israel after the Second Intifada. If the state is now looking to decrease that imported labour force through deportation how is this likely to affect the economy of Israel? Has the economic downturn meant that Israeli citizens are now being pushed into jobs that were previously seen as below them and only to be filled by Palestinians or non-Israeli immigrants? I'm not sure about this last bit which is why it's a question but it's one theory I had on the matter.

First off, not all jews are created equal in the eyes of the state. There are 'White' Jews aka Ashkenzi and 'Black' Jews aka Ethiopians/Russians/Ultra-Orthodox, who are heavily discriminated against. As for your questions, so far Israelis haven't taken those types of jobs.
I don't think Israel will really deport them-because of international pressure from the US(the US and EU held Israel from going even further right many times) and pressure from employers to depress wages. They will probably be locked up and used as prison labor-it's already happening with the ones in jail(paying them 14 shekels a day to clean while minimum wage is 23 shekels per hour).

I also think the left needs to see the bigger picture(syrain refugees in turkey, recent crackdowns in saudi arabic and deportations in egypt) to try and create a joint local+migrant labor effort. the refugees literally have 'nothing to lose but their chains'.

[bricolage]

Hi, I from Israel.



Just because you hear the word 'strike', don't be fooled by it. It's not the working class vs the bosses type of strike. It's the bosses sending their workers to fight for them against the gov't plan to deport them. Don't be fooled, the restaurants bosses aren't doing it for 'humanitarian reasons', it's because they want to continue to use cheap labor, since the other sources, mainly Palestinian and Russian, has dried up. Of course, in this case the interests of the migrant labor and (part of the) bosses are temporarily the same against the state policy.
We, as communists, demand solidarity with migrant labor, end to deportations, give them full citizenship right, including equal pay and social benefits.
Hi, thanks for the reply. So are you saying the strike has the support of the restaurant etc owners? If so this changes a lot.

In London at the end of 2013 there was a 'strike' in Chinatown against UK Border Agency 'fishing raids', ie. when they charge into restaurants randomly and look for people to deport. The 'strike' lasted for several hours and shut down the entirety of Chinatown, however it was completely organised by the restaurant bosses (http://www.tmponline.org/2013/10/22/chinatown-bosses-ukba/) and it turned out their opposition was just to the disruption to business that the raids caused and not the deportations themselves;

Lawrence Cheng, secretary general of the London Chinatown Chinese Association, which organised the walkout, said the raids had damaged business and spurred the community into action.

"These raids are very disruptive, putting owners in a shutdown situation while UKBA officers stay as long as they like," he said. "We are not trying to justify employing illegal immigrants, but these raids have to happen in the right way – procedures aren't being followed, people are being pushed around."http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/22/chinatown-protest-immigration-border-agency-raids [emphasis my own]

If this is the case in Israel it's still happening on a much bigger scale (three days vs three hours) and including a much larger amount of people, but its still compromised in itself.


First off, not all jews are created equal in the eyes of the state. There are 'White' Jews aka Ashkenzi and 'Black' Jews aka Ethiopians/Russians/Ultra-Orthodox, who are heavily discriminated against.
Definitely, I am aware of this but it's always a point that needs to be pointed out. My understanding though was that most of the migrants in these demonstrations (and the majority of African migrants to Israel) are not Jewish.


As for your questions, so far Israelis haven't taken those types of jobs.
I don't think Israel will really deport them-because of international pressure from the US(the US and EU held Israel from going even further right many times) and pressure from employers to depress wages. They will probably be locked up and used as prison labor-it's already happening with the ones in jail(paying them 14 shekels a day to clean while minimum wage is 23 shekels per hour).Yeah, this is is a pattern I can see happening in a lot of places. Grim.

[guy123]

Hi, thanks for the reply. So are you saying the strike has the support of the restaurant etc owners? If so this changes a lot.

In London at the end of 2013 there was a 'strike' in Chinatown against UK Border Agency 'fishing raids', ie. when they charge into restaurants randomly and look for people to deport. The 'strike' lasted for several hours and shut down the entirety of Chinatown, however it was completely organised by the restaurant bosses (http://www.tmponline.org/2013/10/22/chinatown-bosses-ukba/) and it turned out their opposition was just to the disruption to business that the raids caused and not the deportations themselves;
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/22/chinatown-protest-immigration-border-agency-raids [emphasis my own]

If this is the case in Israel it's still happening on a much bigger scale (three days vs three hours) and including a much larger amount of people, but its still compromised in itself.
Yeah, it's a coincidence of interests. In some cases, the bosses have even encouraged the refugees to strike, and are even protesting with them.



Definitely, I am aware of this but it's always a point that needs to be pointed out. My understanding though was that most of the migrants in these demonstrations (and the majority of African migrants to Israel) are not Jewish.

Yeah, this is is a pattern I can see happening in a lot of places. Grim.
Oh yeah, you are correct in the fact that they are non-Jewish. If you want more info, then I can say that the gov't policy is outrage.
1. On one hand, they give 'general protection' to refugees from Eritrea(it should be noted that Israel is virtually the only country in the world to have diplomatic ties with Eritrea, and is the only country that is selling the Eritrea Army weapons. not even the US military would go that low! ), so they refuse the specifically check their status, and then the racist Interior Minister goes on TV and say "they aren't refugees, they are rapers/stealers". of course, if the gov't is unwilling to check their status, how convenient. so they are in the twilight zone, unable to legally work. Israel can't legally deport them(because of UN refugees agreement, which ironically Israel pushed for it), but wouldn't provide legal status.
2. the refugees have been picked up by buses from near the border, and just dumped in south tel aviv, an area which is already very poor. needless to say, the people there just blaim it on the refugees, which is not the real problem here. the real problem is the government.
3. the recent crisis started with the passing in the Knesset(local parliament) of an outrages law allowing for the detention of any refugee for 3 years, even if they haven't commited any crime, and without facing a trial. In addition, Israel has been offering 1500$ and a plane ticket home for any refugee who wants to return (which is illegal to return refugees to a warzone) and forced many of them to sign it, against their will.