Sheffi Paz, South Tel Aviv Protest Leader, Dies at 74
The activist spent over a decade organizing residents against illegal immigration and serving a prison sentence for protest-related offenses.
By Claire Herrera ·
Sheffi Paz has died at age 74.
The Save Tel Aviv organization announced the news on Monday. Paz spent many years leading a protest movement in the older neighborhoods of south Tel Aviv. Her activism focused on improving personal safety and changing national immigration policy.
Doctors diagnosed cancer in Paz for the fourth time within the past month. She had previously undergone treatment for the disease on three occasions. Her condition deteriorated quickly. Deputy director-general Amalia Ozer described the decline as a rapid and unexpected spiral. Ozer said the group did not anticipate the end would come so soon.
Paz was the daughter of Holocaust survivors who emigrated from Poland to Israel when she was a child. She began leading the public campaign against illegal migrants in south Tel Aviv in 2013. Over the following years, she organized demonstrations and confronted local authorities. She became one of the most recognizable figures in the movement.
Her actions led to legal conflicts with law enforcement. In September 2024, a court sentenced her to 45 days in prison. The conviction included offenses such as spraying graffiti and disturbing public order. She served the full sentence and returned to public activism upon release.
Save Tel Aviv stated that Paz devoted her final years to fighting for residents. The group noted she did not abandon her demands despite the personal cost. Spokesperson Yaakov Sela and Ozer called her a courageous leader. They said she became a symbol of determination and love for the country. The organization described her as the voice of people who had been left behind. They noted she proved that one person can shake an entire country.
Ozer spoke to Walla on Monday about the weeks she spent at Paz's bedside. She said the question of succession had arisen before Paz fell ill. Ozer handles the parliamentary work but acknowledged she is not Paz. She said Paz functioned like a lioness until her final moment. The group pledged to continue the struggle for south Tel Aviv.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
