Stern is urging Interior Minister Avraham Poraz to remove Gadj from his position.

His plea comes in the wake of similar demands made of the minister in recent weeks by members of the Knesset Immigration and Absorption Committee and organizations providing assistance to foreign workers.

"I see the immense damage [Gadj] is causing to hundreds of families, to the image of the state, to our foreign relations, to citizens," Stern said yesterday.

He said he had approached Poraz on the matter on a number of occasions over the past two and a half years, and had presented the minister with specific examples of instances in which Gadj apparently went against procedures and regulations when denying citizenship to new immigrants and undermining their legal status in the country.

Decisions changed

In the wake of Gadj's intervention in court rulings, Stern charges, decisions were changed to fall in line with the regulations and procedures.

"I asked for an inquiry into how these decisions were made, and what compensation the state gives to those who are affected by them," Stern said. "An inquiry was never conducted."

Sources in Poraz's office refused yesterday to comment on the campaign being waged against Gadj in recent weeks, while Gadj said he and his subordinates were acting in accordance with the law and in keeping with decisions made by the minister.

Gadj hinted that the attacks against him stemmed from his refusal to give in to pressure from politicians to show leniency toward new immigrants contrary to the law and regulations.