Israel to deport overstaying OFWs, children

The deportation of some 100 overstaying Filipino women migrant workers and their children in Israel will push through, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday, adding that the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv was coordinating with Israeli authorities in their repatriation.

“While the Philippines respects Israeli laws, it reiterates its request for the Israeli government to treat overstaying Filipinos in a humane and sensitive manner, since children may be involved,” the DFA said in a statement.

“Likewise, the DFA calls on Filipinos in Israel to observe the host country’s laws,” the statement added.

The Filipino mothers’ working permits were not renewed when they gave birth in Israel, leaving them without any legal status.

Their children, who were raised in Israel, have never visited the Philippines.

Migrant workers are not allowed to bring their families to Israel.  Previously, those who gave birth in Israel were allowed to remain there until their work permits expired, during which time the child was given a temporary permit. Some of the children were granted residency.

The DFA did not say how many Filipino workers and children were involved, but news reports said around 100 Filipino mothers and their Israel-born children were scheduled to be deported in July.

The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv was coordinating with Israel’s Population Immigration and Border Authority (Piba) to “facilitate the repatriation” of the Filipino women workers and their children, the DFA said, adding that it would provide the “necessary assistance” to the repatriates.

The Piba will provide the repatriation tickets to those endorsed by the Philippine Embassy, the DFA said.

There are about 30,000 Filipino workers in Israel, most of them caregivers.

President Duterte made a historic visit to Israel in September 2018, becoming the first sitting Philippine leader to visit the Jewish nation.

During World War II, the Philippines took in some 1,200 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution in Europe.  In 1947, the country provided the tie-breaking vote in the United Nations that paved the way for the creation of the state of Israel.