Before I begin and on behalf of the Israeli people, I would like to express our condolences following the tragic events off the coast of Italy.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the many victims.  Yesterday’s terrible incident serves to underscore the importance of addressing the plight of migrants around the world.

Madam President,

The topic of migration speaks to the very essence and heart of the Jewish people. 

In the Torah, we read that God told Abraham: כִּי גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם... וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן יֵצְאוּ -That his offspring would be strangers in a strange land before entering the Promised Land. 

Our existence as a Jewish people was born in migration over three thousand years ago.  Throughout the course of history, the Jewish people have repeatedly been exiled, uprooted and displaced.

The plight of migrants is close to our hearts.  Today’s debate presents an opportunity to address the many valuable contributions that migrants can offer their host countries.  As workers, they bring skills. As entrepreneurs, they create jobs. As investors, they bring capital.  As individuals, they contribute to cultural diversity.

Madam President,

Three years after Israel became independent; it absorbed many hundreds of thousands of immigrants from the Middle East, North Africa, as well as from Europe - many of whom were Holocaust survivors.   

One of these immigrants was my father, Haim Roet, who was born in Amsterdam in 1932.  A child survivor of the Holocaust, he witnessed unspeakable horrors and lost two of his sister's and many of his family. 

After my father immigrated to Israel in 1949, building a family and a new life would have been enough. But my father – like many survivors and immigrants - wanted more.  He has devoted himself to commemorating the victims of the Holocaust through projects like “Unto Every Person There Is a Name” - a ceremony in which the names of victims are recited and remembered.  He is also active in projects that promote human rights and community engagement, such as the Israeli Center for Social Justice and Tze’ela, the Citizen’s Team Action for Social Improvement.

Madam President,

Migrants make rich and lasting contributions to their communities.  In the early 1990s, Israel opened its doors to one million Soviet refugees.  Within 10 years, the number of new immigrants was close to one million.  In just a few years they have become leaders who have contributed to every area of Israeli society - particularly in politics, music, mathematics and science.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the Israeli Government supported the immigration of a large wave of immigrants from Ethiopia.  Today, more than 36,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel.

The absorption of immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Ethiopia has not been without its challenges. After arriving in Israel they faced economic and social hardships familiar to immigrants around the world. But in addition to language and cultural barriers, they were also forced to confront one of the most critical issues facing new migrants – finding decent work.

In the face of these challenges, Israel developed a broad range of policies and initiatives to assist new immigrants. We created an absorption basket that offers immigrants financial assistance and teaches them Hebrew.  In addition to these tangible benefits, immigrants benefit from our justice system which ensures that the rights of every person – men, women, and children under Israeli law.

Madam President,

Addressing the many challenges migrants face requires the efforts of government and civil society actors alike. Civil society plays a fundamental role in assisting migrants and Israel strongly believes that they are an important voice.

However, there are NGOs whose voice will not be heard today. Three NGOs - one British and two Israeli - were barred from participating in these important discussions.  It’s time to eliminate the non-objection practice that allows NGOs to be silenced anonymously and without cause.

Silencing civil society may be the norm in some countries, but it shouldn’t be allowed at the United Nations.  One of the barred Israeli NGOs was Microfy, which provides assistance to African refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom fled the genocide in Darfur.

The other Israeli NGO, Center for International Migration and Integration, advises governments and NGOs around the world on migration and integration.  The exclusion of these Israeli NGOs was clearly a result of where they are based rather than on the basis of their valuable work.   It is shameful that certain delegations use the UN as a platform to further their political agendas, particularly when it comes at the expense of migrants. 

The international community, together with civil society, must stand together with the world’s 214 million international migrants.  Together, let us reaffirm the fundamental principle of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”

Thank you Madam President.