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Israel Should Embrace Immigrants From Africa

Instead of rejecting African immigrants, Israel should integrate them, becoming a multicultural society such as in Europe, writes Shlomi Eldar.    
Children of migrant workers play on a beach in Tel Aviv, on Israel's Independence Day, marking the 65th anniversary of the creation of the state, April 16, 2013. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: SOCIETY IMMIGRATION ANNIVERSARY) - RTXYNUK
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London. They say “the sun never sets on the British Empire.” I have just returned from a visit to this capital and witnessed multiculturalism in all its glory. London may have a reputation as being an elitist city, but it is packed with people from every continent and of every color and religion. Unlike immigrants seeking work in Israel or sneaking across the border in search of safe harbor and a livelihood, London’s immigrants roam its streets with a sense of security and peace of mind. They feel no need to constantly glance every which way as they walk, trying to avoid an unsolicited encounter with the immigration police. Meanwhile, an efficient public transportation system takes masses of people to wherever they might want to go. The bars are full, and the restaurants, which once had a well-earned reputation for their uninspired offerings, now feature an eclectic and exciting range of flavors, representing every imaginable style of cooking from every country and every culture. Fusion actually thrives here. In other words, it really isn’t that hard to find a decent restaurant in London any more. 

The very people who arrived in the kingdom seeking to earn a decent livelihood have transformed London into a truly cosmopolitan city, like Paris, Berlin, Geneva or New York. In Europe, as in Israel, there is considerable concern about the flood of immigrants from underdeveloped countries, as more of them find their way to the wealthy nations of the West. The difference lies in how those countries deal with this phenomenon.

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