Last update - 00:00 28/12/2007
Foreign workers celebrate holidays amid hopes for citizenship
By Cnaan Liphshiz, Haaretz Correspondent
May these children receive an Israeli citizenship by next Christmas. That was the wish Swaray Alusine, Director of the African Workers Union, shared with the crowd at a special Hanu-Christmas party for foreign workers in southern Tel Aviv earlier this week.
Eglise Vie Nouvelle a small and humble Congolese church on Wolfson Street could barely hold the event's 150-odd participants. Before the 50children of all colors began their performance, they all lined up to sit in Santa Claus' lap, which also belonged to the Filipino foreign worker who portrayed Father Christmas.
"All the Africans you see here, they have been through hell," Swaray said as the crowd began leaving the medium-sized room and its stifling heat. Swaray who came to Israel from Sierra Leone and other volunteers involved with the foreign workers community fear the government's
recent decision to grant citizenship to some 900 children in June could mean deportation for the rest.
"There are no free meals. They agreed to allow 900 children to stay with their families, but we fear a crackdown to deport the remaining 1,700 children and their families," said one activist who preferred to remain anonymous.
Speaking about the African community, Swaray said the situation in most of the continent's countries is so bad that sending African children to their countries of origin was tantamount to "sending them to their graves."
Excited and oblivious to this potential Damocles' sword, the children at the event had trouble keeping quiet backstage before the show. And so, the crowd had to listen attentively to hear the Christmas sermon that David, Vie Nouvelle's reverend, was delivering in French.
When David finished explaining about theology, his English interpreter, minister and synthesizer player, Bonfils, sat behind the keys and the cultural program started.
The first show included a children's choir who performed holiday songs in English, Hebrew, French and Spanish. The kids were followed by a dance recital by four Filipinas and their Israeli dance instructor from Mesila a Hebrew acronym for the municipality's Center for Assistance and Information for the Foreign Community.
Sunday's event which was organized by Mesila social worker Maya Peleg and a staff of volunteers was the center's third Hanu-Christmas event. Maya said she hoped Swaray's wish will come true.
"I'm not sure it will, but we'll see about that next year, same place, same time," she said.