Jerusalem, August 10, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on the Government of Israel to extend, on humanitarian grounds, the protection of legal status to all of the children of foreign workers now in Israel rather than create a distinction which would result in 400 of them being deported from the country.  ADL noted it would be more humane to apply Israel's new policy for determining the legal status of children of foreign workers in the future.  

On August 1, the Cabinet established criteria for children of foreign workers to remain legally in Israel.  Under this new policy, an estimated 800 children of foreign workers will be permitted to stay in Israel, but the approximately 400 children who do not meet these conditions are to be deported from the country. 

"The issue of status for the children of foreign workers is complex, and the Government of Israel has had to weigh numerous considerations, including the impact on Israeli society, current Israeli immigration law, and the impact on the families of these foreign workers," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "That being said, the 400 children now in Israel who do not meet the guidelines for legal status as determined by Israel's new policy should be 'grandfathered in' and permitted to stay on humanitarian grounds.  Going forward, this new policy can be implemented."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.