Dana Weiler-Polak

The strike enters its third day as gaps remain over social workers' demands for pay raises.

Last week, two women were murdered on the same day by their partners, both of whom were in violation of their restraining orders; more than 4,500 restraining orders are issued by Israeli courts every year.

The social workers union is still at odds with the Finance Ministry regarding salary increase for social workers as well as the inclusion of social workers from non-profit organizations in a collective wage agreement.

Social workers strike for second day as Finance Ministry refuses to yield their demand that private-sector social workers receive pay raises as well.

Social workers are demanding improved working conditions and the inclusion of privately employed social workers in the collective bargaining agreement; the strike follows a breakdown in talks to improve working conditions.

Strike follows two-hour negotiating session at Finance Minister's office that broke down; Social Workers Union chairman says strike is inevitable in light of treasury's intransigence.

Deportations expected within next two weeks; child facing deportation pleads at demonstration, 'Let us stay. We have no other country.'

Mother of five turns to Bat Yam social welfare department for help but situation will not be addressed if strike proceeds.

A counter-protest took place at the entrance to Meir Park, where the relief organizations were demonstrating, with south Tel Aviv residents shouting, "Enough with the baby visas!"

Nation-wide strike will involve 10,000 workers employed by government agencies and was called over the union's demand for a substantial hike in social workers' wages.

If efforts fall through, 10,000 social workers will begin an open-ended strike next week as part of a campaign to secure a 30 percent wage hike.

Custodial nursing care placement firms blame the National Insurance Institute for the limited pay the caregivers receive under the circumstances, but the NII says the problem is the agencies' responsibility.

Sosoka said he was a citizen of Ivory Coast, but a custody judge, Elad Azar, concluded that he was a citizen of Senegal, and hence not eligible for asylum.

Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority estimates there are currently about 150,000 foreign nationals in the country illegally.

The strike will involve 10,000 social workers employed by government agencies; it was called over the union's demand for a substantial hike in social workers' wages.

The head of the Council for the Welfare of the Child, Dr. Yitzhak Kadman wrote that although more child investigators have been hired after a long fight, "most of the new ones have left because of the poor and unacceptable conditions."

Union heads want a new collective bargaining agreement that would give them a significant raise. The union representatives want all social workers, from entry-level workers to the most veteran, to receive the raise.

The Physicians for Human Rights report also stated that over half of the asylum seekers arriving through the Sinai are imprisoned or abused by smugglers.

A Physicians for Human Rights survey reveals that most sub-Saharan Africans seeking refugee status in Israel suffer horrible violence at the hands of those that smuggle them into the country.

Requirement that professionals employed by the rabbinical courts act in accordance with Jewish law could cause serious harm to women, secular people and even children.

Tribunal determines asylum seeker to be from Senegal, but lawyers say court put wrong testimony in his file; Justice Ministry refutes claim.

Israeli 'spends life getting documents' in bid to get Interior Ministry to open gates for thrice-deported Russian wife.

Israeli policy requires that these women leave the country within three months after giving birth or, alternatively, send their children abroad if they wish to retain their work visa.