When traffic lights turn red on the highways of Israel’s north, small figures can often be seen darting between the rows of idling cars.
Rain or shine, young boys—some no older than five—weave through the exhaust fumes. They clutch plastic bottles or trinkets; sometimes they simply beg for money.
The presence of hundreds of these children has become a familiar sight at junctions from the Galilee to Hadera: fleeting silhouettes in the mirrors of a country that prides itself on progress and secure borders, yet harbors a shadow economy where human traffickers send children from Judea and Samaria to risk their lives and others’ for spare change.
Last month, Israel saw the first physical protest against what has become known over the past decade as “the junction children.”
Following reports of violence by some beggars and the deaths of three in traffic accidents, Galilee residents demonstrated during rush hour at Yasif Junction, demanding official action. Another rally is planned for Nov. 6.
Their efforts are already having an impact. Police temporarily removed the beggars from Yasif Junction, and...
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