Jerusalem (CNN) -- Amene Tekele Haymanot thought he had made the right choice when five years ago he escaped war-torn Eritrea and opened a business in sunny Tel Aviv, Israel. But he and his countrymen couldn't escape conflict for long. Haymanot never expected himself - or his store -- to become targets of threats and violence in a metropolitan city known for its tolerance. But it was. His windows were smashed in and his business looted during an anti-immigration protest. "Now I am afraid here. I cannot live this way. I'm afraid for my life," Haymanot, who is an illegal immigrant awaiting refugee status, told CNN.
@highlight
Tension has flared in parts of Israel between some immigrants from Africa and residents of the neighborhood
@highlight
Residents says that the infrastructure and public services cannot cope with the new arrivals
@highlight
Many Israelis who sympathize with the African immigrants say they believe racism is a factor
@highlight
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the immigration problem is being dealt with
Eritrea
He says the @placeholder population should be award asylum and given the necessary papers to work.
Tel Aviv
Israeli protesters chanted slogans such as "infiltrators get out" and "@placeholder: A refugee camp".
Africa
African
In two separate cases in May, two @placeholder illegal immigrants were arrested and charged with raping teenage Israeli girls, sparking even more tension between the communities in some parts of the country.
Israel
Israel
Israelis
Israeli
In two separate cases in May, two African illegal immigrants were arrested and charged with raping teenage @placeholder girls, sparking even more tension between the communities in some parts of the country.