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del.icio.us Digg It!  new At foreign workers' Christmas party, hopes for citizenship By Cnaan Liphshiz "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. Advertisement Eglise Vie Nouvelle - a small and humble Congolese church on Wolfson Street - could barely hold the event's 150-odd participants. Before the 50 children 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. Bookmark to del.icio.us Santa's helpers Foreign workers hope for citizenship for Christmas. He's ba-ack In a new audio tape Bin Laden vows to free Palestine.

Today Online 2 Israelis killed, one hurt in W. Bank shooting attack Responses: 528 Benn, Rosner: Israel needs a 'Rice bypass road' to White House Responses: 174 PM to Abbas: Israel will not undermine peace efforts Responses: 114 Akiva Eldar: Peace deal must start with prisoner release Responses: 112 IDF kills former PA premier's bodyguard during W. Bank raid Responses: 98 New version of old defense group guards Jewish farmlands Responses: 51 More Headlines 22:53 Bin Laden vows he will 'expand jihad in Palestine' 01:09 IDF soldiers killed on West Bank hike eulogized for courage 22:55 PA premier Fayyad says suspects in killings of 2 Israelis caught by PA 22:47 Arab League ministers to meet on Israeli settlement policy 17:28 U.S. court overturns award over W. Bank shooting of yeshiva boy 18:51 Senator sees 'real opportunity' for resuming Syria-Israel talks 23:47 Hamas: Egypt agrees to allow Gazan pilgrims to return through Rafah 20:19 Chemicals used in making explosives caught at West Bank checkpoint 18:51 PA arrests three Israelis in Bethlehem, transfers them to Israel 10:34 PM announces intention to change building permits Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec

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