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Nitzan Hafner is an independent photojournalist based in Tel Aviv. Cover issues in Israel and around the world.

Living at the Bottom
I first met Cheli three years ago on Arlinger St, the first time I was  wandering around the old bus station area in Tel-Aviv.
Cheli is wobbling, staggering, walking some steps on the pavement and then some down on the road, and when she sees me, she starts to sing. She’s moving in my direction and when the distance between us shortens, she turns to me and asks if I wanted her services. I insist that I don’t. She thinks I’m bargaining.
The old bus station area and the streets around it are a human mosaic of rejected types of society; prostitutes, junkies and drug hubs alongside homeless people and foreign workers. The buildings, constructed ninety years ago, are now falling apart, the stench of urine is pungent, garbage is strewn all over the streets and violence is in abundance. The police often raids, charging into buildings in search of drugs, and this February it announced a “cleanup” operation in attempt to eradicate crime in this area. An unsuccessful endeavor, it appears.
I know that at least once in her life Cheli joined a rehab program, but she ran away as soon as she had the chance, straight into the unwelcoming arms of the old station.
She leans on me and barely manages to warm up the test tube, she starts to cry, asking “Why do I deserve this?” and…”God help me…”. Her sobbing turns to screaming and the scream mixes with tears.

Tags: Israel, Tel Aviv