Far-right anti-migrant activist Sheffi Paz has been sentenced to 45 days in prison for vandalizing the European Union diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv in 2020. The 72-year-old activist, known for her outspoken campaigns against asylum seekers in her south Tel Aviv neighborhood, showed no remorse during her sentencing by the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir condemned the court’s decision, arguing that right-wing activists receive disproportionately harsher penalties than their left-wing counterparts. He voiced his support for Paz, calling her fight against illegal immigrants a shared struggle, particularly for residents of south Tel Aviv, who have long been concerned about the growing migrant population in the area.
Paz has a history of extreme actions related to her anti-migrant stance. In 2020, she made headlines for breaking into a preschool that served the children of asylum seekers, which intensified her notoriety. Additionally, she has faced legal action for inflammatory remarks, including calling for the execution of a lawmaker who supported asylum for Afghan refugees.
The incident that led to her imprisonment involved vandalism at the EU diplomatic mission, where Paz spray-painted messages such as “German money kills Jews” and “EU get out.” This act of defiance was a direct protest against what she perceived as foreign interference in Israel’s domestic migration policies. Her actions were part of a broader far-right movement in Israel opposing the presence of asylum seekers, many of whom come from Africa.
Her case continues to stir political debate in Israel, with Ben Gvir and other right-wing figures using the sentencing as a rallying cry against what they see as judicial bias. The issue of migration, especially concerning African asylum seekers in south Tel Aviv, remains a contentious one, with many residents feeling neglected by the government and overwhelmed by the influx of migrants.
Paz’s imprisonment may be short, but it highlights the ongoing tensions in Israel over migration, law enforcement, and the role of far-right activism in shaping public policy. As her supporters rally behind her cause, the court’s decision could further polarize views on how Israel should handle the challenges posed by asylum seekers and migration.