MEDIA

29/9/24 Just in time for Rosh Hashanah – A Wonderful Success

Just in time for Rosh Hashanah – A Wonderful Success! 11-year-old Nathan and his mother Patricia will stay in Israel! 🇮🇱

After a legal and media battle, the Population and Immigration Authority has reversed its decision and will now allow Nathan and his mother Patricia to remain in Israel.

Nathan, born and raised in Israel, speaks Hebrew fluently, and feels completely Israeli, had faced the threat of deportation along with his mother. Despite his father being Israeli, the authorities initially claimed that this did not grant them legal status.

Thanks to the legal process led by the Warsha-Weitzen law firm and media coverage of their story, the Director of the Authority, Eyal Siso, reviewed the case and approved their request to stay.

Attorney Tomer Warsha, representing the family, said: “We welcome the decision to reinstate Patricia’s identity card. This is the right approach when it comes to foreign parents of Israeli children.”

Nathan will continue his studies at Brandeis School in Herzliya, stay close to his family and friends, and pursue his dream of joining the IDF in the future!

Read the full article >>

4/9/24 Ashley’s struggle to enlist in the IDF: I am part of Israeli society

In these times, when Israel needs every helping hand more than ever, Ashley Kasao’s story highlights the importance of the struggle for justice and equality.

Ashley Kasao, 17.5 years old, was born and raised in Israel, absorbed its values, and now wishes to fulfill her dream – to serve in the IDF and contribute to the country that is her only home. Tomer Warsha – Asaf Weitzen law firm is leading the fight to regularize her status.

Attorney Weitzen emphasizes: “A young woman who was born in Israel and has never left it wants to contribute to the best of her ability through meaningful service in the IDF. This is at a time when the IDF is desperate for soldiers. This girl is expected to become a citizen in any case within a few years. Failing to regularize her status in a way that would allow her to enlist in the IDF is a great injustice.”

Read the full article here >>

8/8/24 Mercy Afrifah will not be able to represent Israel in the World Championship?

The sister of Blessing Afrifah, who represented Israel in the Olympics, set the criterion for the 100-meter run. However the Minister of the Interior has not yet approved her request for citizenship. Attorney Tomer Varsha: “It is desirable that her request be approved as soon as possible.”

Read the article here: https://sports.walla.co.il/item/3683259

6/8/24 At the moment: Mercy Afrifah will not participate in the World Championship

We are thrilled and proud of our client, Blessing Afrifah, who represented Israel with honor at the Paris Olympics and is set to do so again in four years at the Los Angeles Olympics. We also hope his sister, Mercy Afrifah, who is 18, will join him. Mercy has already met the qualification criteria for the World Championships this month.

However, this wonderful sight of a brother and sister representing Israel in athletics cannot happen at the World Championships this month because the Interior Minister has not yet approved Mercy’s citizenship application, unlike Blessing’s.

Thanks to our efforts, we successfully advanced Blessing’s citizenship application. Now we are working on behalf of Mercy and are eager to assist you as well!

If you need professional assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact our office. We are here to help you achieve the results you need!

Share and spread the word to help Mercy also obtain Israeli citizenship, so she can bring great honor to Israel alongside her brother

Read the full article here >> https://m.one.co.il/…/24-25/7,31,0,87989/469699.html

22/7/24 Addition of a new partner

Tomer Warsha Law Firm, a leading firm in the field of immigration and status in Israel for over twenty years, is proud to announce the addition of a new partner. From now on, the firm will be called “Tomer Warsha-Assaf Weitzen Lawyers.”

27/5/24 Natan was born and lives in Israel, the authorities determined that he should be deported with his mother to Poland

Natan Yerushalmi, an 11-year-old Israeli boy, born and raised in Israel, may be deported to Poland with his mother by the Immigration Authority. This is despite the fact that all the professional parties recommend that he remain in Israel for his benefit, and his deep connection to the state – speaks Hebrew, studies in school here and wants to enlist in the IDF.

Attorney Tomer Warsha, who represents the family, is fighting a legal battle against the deportation: “It is not clear why the authority demands to deport an Israeli child who has also been recommended by professional authorities to remain in Israel.”

16/5/24 Foreign parents of soldiers can be deported because of procedure

“Why does the country that my son serves in its army want to deport me?” – Elsie from the Philippines wonders, as she was forced to say goodbye to her soldier son just because she is a foreign citizen. Timmy from the Netherlands is facing deportation despite his son soon enlisting in the IDF. This is a completely absurd situation where families are uprooted due to heartless bureaucracy. Parents whose children fight for the country are cruelly deported from it. Attorney Tomer Warsha is trying to fight the unjust procedure. Read the full article and personal stories

11/4/24 A message to nursing patients and caregivers

A message to nursing patients and caregivers –

We continue to work for you in full force in the Knesset committees, so that you can choose the caregivers you want without restrictions!

Alongside the transverse work, it is important to submit individual requests and manage procedures for regulating the status of caregivers.

If you also need to settle the status of a caregiver, contact us immediately.

Deadline’s coming up.

10/4/24 Our success in helping Chinese medicine practitioner Dr. Li Hong-bo

Read the article about our success in returning Chinese medicine practitioner Dr. Li Hong-bo to Israel who helped cancer patients and was expelled from Israel.

We are very happy that the court of appeals did justice and mercy with hundreds and thousands of Israeli cancer patients, who begged Dr. Hong-bo to be returned to Israel to treat them. It is a shame that the Ministry of Interior itself did not respond to this, and obliged us to conduct a long legal process on the expense of the Israelis in need. We are proud to assist Israeli cancer patients in their struggle for their lives and well-being.

11/3/24 Our success in helping Galil Mountain Winery

Read the article in Mynet about our success in helping Galil Mountain Winery that is located only hundreds of meters from the border with Lebanon, to obtain a extension of expert visa to the winery’s chief winemaker, Michael Avery from Australia, in order to enable the winery to cope with the current situation in the north of Israel.

Our office helps many Israeli and international companies with legal status of experts, and we will continue to do so also in times of war.

6/3/24 The struggle to return to Alexandra her Israeli ID

Read the article in Ynet about our struggle to return to Alexandra her Israeli ID.

Alexandra immigrated to Israel in 2022 as a result of the war in Ukraine with her custodians, Tatiana and Andrey, that raised her since she was two years old. Alexandra was raised as their daughter.

Before they immigrated to Israel, it was promised to them by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration that Alexandra will receive a legal status in Israel, and when they immigrated Alexandra received an Israeli ID number.

Three months after they immigrated to Israel, the family was astonished to accidentally find out that Alexandra’s ID isn’t valid anymore. After many applications of the family to the Ministry of the Interior, only in August 2023 the family was updated that there was an error in the status that was given to Alexandra when entering israel, beacuse her parents didn’t adopt her but only were her custodians.

It is a derelication of Israel from an administrative assurance that was given to the parents, and that based on it they decided to arrive specifically to Israel instead of receiving refuge in an European country. We are determined to settle Alexandra’s status in Israel and to enable the family to stay united.

22/2/24 The struggle to unite the polyamory family of Berta, Yelena and Alexey

Read the article about our struggle to unite the polyamory family of Berta, Yelena and Alexey, a couple of married bisexual women that immigrated to Israel from Russia due to Zionism, and their partner which they met in Russia before immigrating to Israel.

Also for us it is a precedent and precisely that is why it was very important to us to help the family, in order to make a safe and legitimate space for them and for other families which will need it. The law should adjust itself to the changing reality and the social development, and as before it wasn’t possible to settle the legal status of a couple of the same gender while currently it is trivial, in this manner we are determined to pave the way for a polyamory family, that will be able to live as they want.

7/2/24 We get residency for a Filipino mother of an Israeli soldier

We are proud to get residency for a Filipino mother of an Israeli soldier. We cherish the Filipino community for its contribution to the state of Israel, to the elderly and to those in need, especially during the war. We are glad to succeed for her and to get justice for an IDF soldier and his mother.

25/7/24 An interview on channel 9 about the case of Anna

Anna, a legal resident in Israel, invited her friends from Russia to visit her in Israel. When they arrived, they were detained at the border for a long and tiring investigation, which resulted in their deportation back to Russia. The Interior Ministry claimed that since Anna is not a citizen, she cannot invite friends and relatives to Israel and must submit a request in advance. This is despite Anna being a legal resident and Russian citizens being exempt from visa requirements!

This is where Adv. Amit Ramti from our office came to the picture. After a long process, we were informed of the victory – the judge in the District Court rebuked the Ministry of the Interior, canceled the decision, and ruled that Anna’s Russian friends did not need an invitation.

Watch an interview on Channel 9 with Anna and attorney Tomer Warsha, who recounts the struggle and its happy ending.

Do you need help with a similar issue? Our team is here for you!

1/1/24 Jamie, the brave Iron Dome fighter, and her family will stay together!

Starting 2024 with great news!

Jamie, the brave Iron Dome fighter, and her family will stay together!

The Director General of the Population Authority approved the special request we submitted to settle the legal status of Jamie’s family. Now, all family members will receive Israeli residency and can continue living safely by her side.

Jamie can stop fighting the country – and keep fighting for the country.

Attorney Chen Weiss from the office successfully handled the case.

Another major breakthrough for the legal status of mixed couples and their family members 28/12/23

Another major breakthrough for the legal status of mixed couples and their family members!

A particularly successful petition submitted by us on behalf of our clients resulted in a significant and welcome change in the procedure for granting legal status of accompanying minors to foreign spouses of Israelis by the Population Authority.

This petition sought to correct an injustice that resulted in severe discrimination between married couples and common-law couples (among them couples from the LGBTQ community) in the essential issue: the right to raise children.

We are thrilled about the Population Authority’s decision, and we will continue to fight for mixed couples and enable them to live happily and with dignity in Israel.

Jamie – interview Amnon levy channel 13 14/12/23

Help us continue our rescue operation from the expulsion of the soldier’s family:

Jamie, a resident of Israel, is a soldier and an Iron Dome fighter, who risks her life every day defending the country, and has faced an impossible situation for years in which her adoptive mother and her two younger brothers are at risk of deportation.

These days, the case is brought to the Minister of Interior for his decision whether to allow the family to stay here or to break them apart.

After the story was published in Ynet, today I was interviewed by Amnon Levy on channel 13.

In these days of solidarity and unity, help Jamie, who risks herself every day to protect us – she is one of us and we must not abandon her.

We call on you to respond, share and address the Interior Minister, Moshe Arbel, whose email address is attached, and show Jamie our support for her and her family

marbel@knesset.gov.il

12/12/23 Jamie Portugal, Iron Dome soldier

Join us in saving This soldier’s family from deportation:

Jamie Portugal, who is an Iron Dome soldier who risks her life every day in defense of the country, is always under the threat of expulsion from her adoptive mother and her brothers.

Jamie, a permanent resident who has registered for a conversion process and intends to continue to serve in the army, is fighting with the Population Authority to regulate the status of her family members in Israel.

These days we talk a lot about solidarity and unity, it is time to enlist for Jamie, who is risking her life every day to protect Israel – she is one of ours and we must not abandon her.

We call on you to respond, share, and address the interior minister, Moshe Arbel, whose email address is: marbel@knesset.gov.il, and to show Jamie what wonderful people stand behind her.

30/11/23 discussion in the Foreign Workers Committee in the Knesset- infrastructure and construction sectors

During a discussion in the Foreign Workers Committee in the Knesset, I presented to the committee members the problems caused by the lack of a clear framework for foreign workers in the infrastructure and construction sectors and their impact on the Israeli housing crisis and economy.

23/11/23 my request to the chairman of the Foreign Workers Committee during a discussion in the Knesset – to amend the legislation on foreign caregivers visas

Watch my request to the chairman of the Foreign Workers Committee during a discussion in the Knesset – to amend the legislation on foreign caregivers visas -hoping to enable thousands of families to receive the care their loved ones deserve and need.

16/11/23 the new reality in the construction industry- Foreign Workers Committee in the Knesset

Watch the heated discussion I held in the Knesset during the Foreign Workers Committee, in which I presented the new reality in the construction industry following the war and its economic implications on companies and corporations in this sector.

the impact of war on the field of caregiving 13/11/23

Watch the special webinar I held dealing with the impact of war on the field of caregiving, the fight I am leading in the Knesset to facilitate the obtaining of the various visas in these times, and the special attention we provide to caregivers and patient’s families during the war>>

Patient’s families? We will be happy to assist you in the process and ensure the well-being of your loved one during this difficult time.ה

students from Burkina Faso vs. Pri Or – interview on 6 with Oded Ben Ami on 12 News 7/9/23

Do you remember the horrible exploitation case of “Pri Or,” which was revealed in 2018 on 12 News, in which students who came to Israel from Burkina Faso as volunteers to study agriculture were exploited and became workers for minimal wages in the packing house of “Pri Or”?

Today, five years later, justice has been served. After a persistent fight by our office, the court ruled in compensation of more than half a million shekels (!!!) and gave an important message to the company that acted in violation of the law. This is an important precedent against a public company that took advantage of a disadvantaged population, and we are sure that this precedent will prevent similar exploitation of other companies in the future.

Watch the story that was broadcast on “6 with Oded Ben Ami” on 12 News about this important victory>>

3/9/23 incidents of the Eritrean asylum seekers Ynet studio interview

Following the violent incidents of the Eritrean asylum seekers on Saturday, and as someone who has been involved in the field of immigration for many years, I was invited to discuss this unfortunate situation at the Ynet studio.

There is no justification for violence in any way. Still, it is crucial to use this time to solve the severe and ongoing failure of the Ministry of the Interior, which for many years avoided investigating asylum requests and thus prevented the deportation of the supporters of the Eritrean regime and the granting of refugee status to its opponents.

27/8/23 10-year-old orphan from Ukraine

Last weekend, social networks buzzed in response to a story about a 10-year-old orphan from Ukraine. The boy had arrived in Israel with his uncle, who is married to an Israeli citizen, but they were prevented from entering Israel. Consequently, the child was detained by Israeli authorities, pending deportation.

As the weekend approached, our team acted fast and professionally. By Friday, Adv. Asaf Weizen and Adv. Noam Grinzaig from our firm filed an urgent appeal to the Tel Aviv Court of Appeals to halt the deportation and grant the boy entry.

Shortly, both the boy and his uncle were released on bail. Thanks to a decision by the head of the Population and Immigration Authority, Eyal Siso, they were granted a three-month permit to stay in Israel.

“We are deeply gratful that, following our legal intervention and its coverage on Ynet, Eyal Siso, the head of the Population and Immigration Authority, made a compassionate and judicious decision. He ordered the immediate release of the boy and his uncle, sparing the child further distressing detention at the airport.”

2/8/23 Blessing Afrifah ynet sports

When we fought to obtain Israeli citizenship for Blessing Afrifah, nobody knew who he was and what he may become. Today, after we obtained his citizenship, he is known as the Israeli world champion.

Now we are facing another struggle, this time – obtaining citizenship for his little sister Mercy, who is also expected to achieve extraordinary international achievements in athletics.

Two siblings, Israeli citizenship, and Endless pride for the country.

22/6/23 Geffen is staying in Israel channel 13 interview

Proud and excited to announce that Gefen is staying in Israel!

As promised, we didn’t stop fighting until the outrageous decision to deport 8-year-old Gefen Gethon and her mother back to Ethiopia following the tragic loss of her father was reversed – and this week it finally happened!

Watch the touching interview Gefen, her uncle and I had on Channel 13 >>

We will be happy to fight to win for you too.

The case of the 15-year-old outstanding young athlete Timur Mingalov Channel 5 interview 15/6/23

Watch my interview on Channel 5 regarding the case of the 15-year-old outstanding young athlete Timur Mingalov, who, even after the recommendations of the heads of the Israel Gymnastics Federation and the current Minister of Sports, Miki Zohar, to grant him citizenship (that he will receive anyway in about two and a half years by law!), still waiting to receive formal approval from the Ministry of the Interior and in the meantime cannot represent Israel in the most important competitions in the world of sports>>

We hope Minister Moshe Arbel will make the proper and necessary decision for Timor and the future of sports and gymnastics in Israel.

13/6/23 Israel VS. 8-year-old Geffen

Israel VS. 8-year-old Geffen

Watch the heartbreaking story of Geffen Gathon and her mother – represented by our office.

They lost the most precious thing – their beloved father and husband, and now face deportation to Ethiopia, which would rock their worlds and cause little Geffen to lose her Israeli citizenship and a safe life in Israel.

We will not rest or stop fighting until this cruel decision is revoked and Geffen and her mother stay in Israel!

16/3/23 Obtaining citizenship for the outstanding gymnast Timur Minglov

Read about our struggle to obtain citizenship for the outstanding gymnast on Walla!:

Israel is missing out on medals in gymnastics because the Ministry of the Interior is delaying the citizenship approval of Israel’s next big hope, the 14-year-old boy Timur Minglov.

Timor is an Israeli resident who is supposed to receive his Israeli citizenship in two years, but at this age in gymnastics – two years is an eternity. All the senior officials of the industry support his citizenship approval, including the Minister of Culture and Sports of Israel!

But in the meantime, the Ministry of the Interior does not decide on the request. We have already missed one competition, and next month the World Championship and the preparation for the Olympics are due. Isn’t that a shame?

the deportation of an Israeli soldier’s mother 4/5/23

Read the Maariv feature discussing our valiant fight against the deportation of an Israeli soldier’s mother, who raised her son in Israel for his entire life. Despite clear legal provisions, the Ministry of the Interior insists on separating the two. As the backbone of our nation, IDF soldiers deserve unwavering support, and we are committed to ensuring no soldier remains alone in their homeland against their will.

Gilad Friedman and cargiving problems 7/3/23

Read and share an important article discussing the problem in the nursing and caregiving field and the damage caused to many Israelis in need of those services, as it reflects through the sad story of our client Gilad Friedman.

Many elderly and disabled Israelis are helpless due to a glitch in the law that prevents them from approving their choice of nursing care providers! This massive injustice requires the awakening of the Minister of the Interior and the government. We have a solution and need the Minister of the Interior to accept it.

Please Share this post to raise awareness. Our office leads the struggle of the disabled and the elderly for free choice of foreign caregivers. The state must not prevent Israelis in need of nursing and caregiving from choosing who will take care of them 24/7.

Do you have a similar problem? Contact us, and we will help!

Passport Law 24/7/23

Watch the important committee discussion in the Knesset, where I participated, discussing the “Passport Law” – the new law authorizing the Minister of the Interior to refuse to grant an Israeli passport to an immigrant who has not yet settled in Israel. In this discussion, I lay out the logical fallacy between the amendment to the law and the actual reality before the committee and explain what should be done to achieve their true goal >>

petition for Gefen channel 13 interview 17/5/23

Yesterday morning I was interviewed on Channel 13 about our fight to revoke the deportation of 8.5-year-old Gefen and her mother. As I said in the interview, we expect the Minister of the Interior and the head of the Population Authority to revoke the decision and not hide behind the excuse of the court decision that merely decided not to interfere with the authority’s decision. We appealed to the Supreme Court to have the deportation annulled.

Join the petition for Gefen.

Geffen channel 13 interview 30/4/23

Watch the moving interview this morning on Channel 13 with Geffen. The Israeli Ministry of the Interior wants to deport her to Ethiopia along wiGeulah Even-Sa’ar regarding the heartbreaking case of 9-year-old Israeli girl Geffen Getthoth her mother, following her father’s tragic passing due to cancer. This decision is insensitive and cruel, and we cannot stand by while an innocent child is punished due to circumstances beyond her control.

We recently became involved in this case and are taking action to ensure that this decision is overturned. We have turned to the new Minister of the Interior Moshe Arbel and will not rest until Geffen and her family receive the justice they deserve.

Please share this interview and show your support for Geffen and her family. It is important that we come together as a community to fight against injustice and ensure that all Israeli citizens are treated with dignity and respect.

15/2/23 The Foreign Workers Committee in the Knesset

As the Foreign Workers Committee in the Knesset assembles in a new composition, I continue to fight for our clients in the caregiving sector- for the right of elderly and disabled patients and their families to choose a caregiver of their choice. I shared the plights and needs of so many Israelis with the new chairman of the committee. This is a moral obligation of the state, and we will continue to do everything we can to assist populations in need.

8/2/23 Professor Eviatar Nevo caregiver

Professor Eviatar Nevo, a 94-year-old Israel Prize laureate, one of the world’s greatest researchers and scientists in the field of biology, one of the founders of the University of Haifa, an active researcher to this day, a bereaved father – yet, he also faces the stubborn bureaucracy of the Population Authority, which refuses to allow him to be assisted by a caregiver who has been treating him for a whole year, all this during the Coronavirus crisis!

Watch the video and see how we are fighting to allow him to keep Rudy his caregiver by his side.

18/1/23 The Levin reform

The Levin reform will harm all of us, regardless of our political views.

Read the column I published today on Ynet, as a lawyer who deals with defending human rights daily.

12/1/23 Samuel family – Pakistan

Adv. Tomer Warsha, who represents the family, said:

“The case of the Samuel family illustrates the opacity that the Population Authority has towards a family that perceives themselves Jewish and studied and practiced Judaism all their life – while facing great danger in Pakistan, and came to Israel to convert to Judaism in an official manner and be a part of the Jewish people and community properly.”