New Internet Site Identifies Employers Who Hire African Migrants

A new Internet site titled "Migrants - Opposing Migrant Infiltration Into Our Country" is disclosing information about employers and landlords who offer work and housing to African migrants.

The site claims to oppose race-baiting and declares that "each of our writers accepts full responsibility for his copy"; however, captions and phrases such as "blacks - back to Africa" set a menacing tone.

The site proclaims that "by providing employment to migrants we are destroying the future of our children in the land of Israel. Citizens of Israel must awaken, and demand that the IDF stop these migrants at the border, even if this requires the use of live bullet fire."

The site has collected 80 names and addresses of restaurants, car rental agencies and furniture outlets said to employ African migrants. It refers, for instance, to a supermarket in Givat Shaul that allegedly employs "20 migrants as packers. Some of these people are diseased." There is also reference to a regional council in Judea and Samaria said to employ migrants.

One person has posted a warning about a home cleaning agency: "This company employs migrants on a continuing basis. I saw a number of migrants wearing the agency's uniform, and holding a broom or a mop. That's terrifying." Another web surfer joined in, disclosing the name and address of this cleaning agency. Also listed on the site is the Jerusalem address of an apartment where Sudanese migrants apparently live; the residence has already been the target of an arson attack.

The site provides information about protest actions against migrants, having publicized the south Tel Aviv demonstration initiated by MK Michael Ben-Ari that featured mob attacks on African laborers and the smashing of store and car windows.

The Internet site's managers do not openly support such activities; doing so could expose them to criminal prosecution for racism or incitement to violence. As it is, they may be exposing themselves to libel suits by business owners or landlords whose names they publish. Advertisements calling on Internet users to click onto this site have appeared on Internet forums and media outlets associated with the right wing and ultra-Orthodox.

One establishment identified on the site is the Rak Basar (Only Meat) restaurant in Tel Aviv. Avi Brand, the restaurant's manager, insists the African laborers he employs have legal work permits.

"We hire migrants with pride," he says. "Each day we prepare 30 liters of soup distributed for free to needy people in south Tel Aviv. In cases of migrants who work for us but don't know their birth dates, we choose a day and give them gifts on it." No response could be obtained from managers of the Internet site.