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.

The British government, like others in Europe, realized that it was impossible to put a complete halt to such immigration, but that it was possible, and even necessary, to use common sense in tackling the problem. Instead of pushing new immigrants to the fringes of society and fostering a sense of alienation and anger, it was decided to integrate them and to embrace the best that they have to offer. Extensive, pragmatic programs were developed to absorb the immigrant flows from the Middle East and Africa. Of course, this demanded close cooperation among the ministries of welfare, housing, and education and the police, but it seems to be working, at least for now.  

It is true that British Prime Minister David Cameron has bemoaned the fact that Great Britain has not been completely successful in integrating its immigrant communities. On the other hand, that he confessed to this indicates that there is a genuine desire to do so and that this desire is the result of goodwill.