Israeli Government Looks to Deport Asian Chefs
The first victim of xenophobia is the people who directly suffer its consequences. The second victim is a nation’s cuisine. Immigrants are always found in a free nation’s kitchens, and they’re usually doing the bulk of the good cooking. Which is why an Israeli government plan to enforce a protectionist, anti-immigrant law specifically aimed at Asian chefs in Israel is sure to hurt both immigrants and diners.
Israel’s nationwide sushi craze is being endangered by a wasabi-strength threat: The government, seeking to protect local jobs, wants to send all foreign-born Asian chefs packing by January 2009.
Asian food has become increasingly popular in Israel, fueled by the large number of young Israelis who travel to the region in an unofficial rite of passage after compulsory army service.
Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Indian restaurants have grown into a $280 million industry, accounting for 10 percent of the local dining landscape, according to the Ethnic Restaurant Association.
For the moment, Asian restaurants employ 900 foreign chefs and kitchen workers. But if the government has its way, that number could soon drop.
“We feel an Israeli can hold a wok as well as a Thai or a Chinese person,” said Shoshana Strauss, a lawyer at the Industry and Trade Ministry, which regulates work permits for foreign workers.
Restaurant operators said the Israeli plan posed an existential threat to their thriving businesses, saying the foreigners have expertise that cannot easily be replaced.
“If we don’t have cooks, we don’t have food. If we don’t have food, we don’t have customers,” said Steven Lobel, a sushi operator who owns two Asian restaurants that employ 14 Asian kitchen workers in the Tel Aviv area. “It’s pretty much one of the biggest threats we have as restaurant operators.”
What an outrage. I’m with Lobel, obviously. If there’s any justice in the world, Israel will cut out this xenophobic crap and put Strauss on the first plane to Bangkok, where I’m sure she’ll find that Thai chefs can’t make just as good a matzoh ball soup as she could find back home.
Coincidentally, tonight is gay Jewish sushi night in Philly.
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Norris Hall
