Shefi Paz, Anti-Illegal Immigration Activist, Dies at 74

Shefi Paz, a prominent public activist known for leading a movement against illegal immigration and advocating for the rights of residents in South Tel Aviv, has passed away at the age of 74. The cause of her death was cancer. Paz, who was the daughter of Holocaust survivors and immigrated from Poland as a child, dedicated her later years to fighting for the safety and dignity of residents in the older neighborhoods of South Tel Aviv. Her movement, "Otef Tahanat Merkazit," stated that she "devoted the last years of her life to a persistent struggle for the rights of residents of the old neighborhoods of South Tel Aviv, for their safety and rights to a dignified life."

Paz was frequently detained during demonstrations and faced legal proceedings multiple times. In 2024, she was sentenced to 45 days in prison on charges including incitement to violence, property damage, and disturbing public order. Upon receiving her sentence, she declared her lack of remorse for her actions in "freeing neighborhoods from the occupation by illegals, which is happening under the guise of the state and with the support of law enforcement agencies."