Ashkelon Mayor Itamar Shimoni has decided to stop construction of safe rooms (bomb shelters) in city schools because the work is being carried out by Israeli Arabs. According to the report, the mayor turned to the contractor who won the bid to build the safe rooms as well as the IDF Homefront Command, informing them of his decision, which is based on his concerns for the safety of students.

The mayor explains that due to the worrisome security situation in Israel today, he feels the move is necessitated by his obligation to protect the children and assure parents and teachers alike that everything is being done to maintain a safe atmosphere in the city’s schools.

While the wave of Islamic violence and terror attacks has not reached Ashkelon, the mayor prefers to play it safe and he has stepped up security in and around schools. They mayor found a private source of funding to pay for security in kindergartens near construction sites as well.

Responding to the mayor’s decision, the Defense Ministry states “All the contractors and employees working in schools are Israeli citizens, holders of blue identity cards and they are all been cleared by Israel Police to work in schools”.

YWN-ISRAEL points out that the barbaric massacre in the Har Nof shul and recent deadly vehicular terror attacks in Yerushalayim were all carried out by Arabs who lived in the city and had blue identity cards.

In response to what appears may be a growing trend; getting rid of Arab workers, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released a statement on Thursday morning 27 Marcheshvan in defense of Israeli Arab citizens.

“There can be no discrimination against Israeli Arabs. We must not generalize about an entire public due to a small and violent minority. The vast majority of Israel’s Arab citizens are law-abiding and whoever breaks the law – we will take determined and vigorous action against him. In the framework of the draft nationality law that I will submit to the cabinet on Sunday, we will enshrine the full equality before the law of every citizen regardless of religion, race or sex alongside ensuring Israel’s identity as the national state of the Jewish People; there is no contradiction between the two and I will not allow these two basic principles to be undermined.”

President Reuven Rivlin added, “The reaction by those across the political spectrum, on the left and right, against the decision to restrict the employment of Arabs in Ashkelon, is a clear message both internally and to the outside world, that the combination of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state, is an inalienable part of our identity as Israelis.

“This is the real proof, that even in the face of brutal terrorism, we do not compromise on our most important values.”

And finally, the reaction of the Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities at the Ministry of Economy, attorney Tziona Koenig-Yair:

“During these difficult times, I expect employers to exercise responsibility and leadership to encourage tolerance and equal opportunities, and not exclusion, particularly local authorities such as the Ashkelon municipality, which publicized that it has terminated the employment of Arabs in the municipality, a step which breaks the Equal Opportunities Law. Additionally, local authorities also have public responsibility towards all their residents, Jews and Arabs alike. Such authorities must show leadership and act to calm the storm, and not take collective action which may fan the flames. We all need to work together to improve the situation, and continue to work towards equality and tolerance for all citizens of the State of Israel, both Jews and Arabs.”

The Commissioner’s office concludes:

Over the last few days, the Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities has received a not insignificant number of requests regarding employers firing or wishing to terminate the employment of Arab male and female employees, solely on racial grounds.

The Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities wishes to clarify that the Equal Opportunities Law, 5748-1988, clearly prohibits employers from discriminating against their employees on account of their race, ethnic origin or religion. Employment discrimination due to race, whether by terminating employment or accepting for employment, is forbidden by law.

The Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities is entrusted with civil enforcement of all equality in employment laws. The Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities stressed this morning that any employer firing an employee due to their being Arab, opens him or herself up to legal proceedings by the employees being discriminated against, and by the Commissioner.

“During these difficult times, I expect employers to exercise responsibility and leadership to encourage tolerance and equal opportunities, and not exclusion, particularly local authorities such as the Ashkelon municipality, which publicized that it has terminated the employment of Arabs in the municipality, a step which breaks the Equal Opportunities Law. Additionally, local authorities also have public responsibility towards all their residents, Jews and Arabs alike. Such authorities must show leadership and act to calm the storm, and not take collective action which may fan the flames. We all need to work together to improve the situation, and continue to work towards equality and tolerance for all citizens of the State of Israel, both Jews and Arabs.”

The Commissioner for Equal Employment Opportunities calls to anyone who feels he or she is being discriminated against in the labor market to apply for legal counsel, and, in appropriate cases, legal representation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)