Africans In Israel: Immigration Issue or Human Rights Disaster?

Reporting that African refugees are detained upon first arriving in Israel because "Sudan is technically an Arab country" is somewhat misleading. They aren't being detained simply because they may (or may not) be from an Arab country. They are being detained because, as any country concerned with it's national security, they have to be able to verify the identities of those entering their borders. Since Sudan, and other Arab-African countries, have elected not to have diplomatic ties with Israel, this complicates issues surrounding identity verification. This is just one of many reasons why, out of concern for national interest rather than spite, these people are being detained on arrival. 

You should have asked your "friend" how far beyond the border with Egypt these refugees/illegal immigrants are being killed.  Point of fact is if they are being killed in Sudan as would be the case if they were from Dharfur, or are you suggesting the Egyptians themselves are doing the killing?  Thanks for the inuendo that creates even more mistrust and hatred, very foolish of you to have said such a thing without backup.  It is pure gossip and if that is what you want to do, stick to Paris Hilton and people of her ilk.

There have been several sources that have indicated that the refugees/illegal immigrants (I like your neutral terminology) have been killed on the Egyptian side of the border BY EGYPTIANS. The allegation is that the Egyptians are so embarrassed that fellow Muslims would flee their country, that they would rather shoot them than give Israel the chance to be the ones to give them sanctuary. The Jerusalem Post has several articles reporting on the murders of these Africans by Egyptian soldiers, as Ms. Fox's friend passed on to her. I would post links, but they are archived, so you'll need to pay to gain access to them. And while I do object to the use of an unidentified friend as a source- I hold greater objection to taking brunt personal shots anonymously.

HalfSours, that's completely true.

The situation with Sudanese refugees is complicated. Israel most definitely needs to get its act together in terms of figuring out what to do with the refugees, if they actually make it across the border. However, don't be misled-- the large majority of these refugees are Sudanese, but NOT Darfurian, and they are not fleeing a genocide. This is where it gets complicated. First, Israel can't prove who is and who is not actually fleeing genocide. Second, Sudan is an enemy country of Israel, and so this is a security disaster waiting to happen. If countries/territories like Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Hamasistan (Gaza) and even Egypt figure out that Israel is taking any and all refugees coming by way of Sudan and letting them roam freely in Israel--- well, you can imagine what might happen. I agree that if Israel is going to allow these refugees into the country, they need to seriously refine their programs/policies. However, it's completely unsafe for Israel to take everyone that crosses the border, who may or may not be a victim of genocide, and not monitor them closely. Israel doesn't haven't the luxury of doing this given its current situation-- hopefully, one day it will. Don't hold your breath, though.

Also, the "slums" by the bus station are home to many migrant workers and Israelis. It ain't pretty, but Israel isn't America-- they don't have too many random, luxury apartments waiting to be filled by refugees. It's hard enough for Israeli citizens to find housing. It's not a place ridden with violent crime; there is clean, running water and it's only a 10 minute walk from some lovely places in Tel Aviv. I'd take that over Sudan and/or genocide, any day.

Cori C

http://cori-c.blogspot.com

coriac@gmail.com

I like the tone..There seems to be a problem with Israel in everything it does... Why are these people flocking to Israel if it is anti-Islam as too many claim? Refugee issues are always hard, as is sorting out exactly who is in the group of Refugees. It is not hard to hide undesirables in a group of moving refugees.

"...and letting them roam freely in Israel--- well, you can imagine what might happen."

Unfortunately the incompetence of the Israeli government has led to a great amount of just that. JPost/Haaretz reported some months ago that Israeli soldiers were taking refugees/illegal immigrants to police stations to be held in custody while the government figures out what to do with them. For whatever reason (moral/practical/it was cigarette break time), they were released before they could enter the building because nobody wanted to process them. They were released and left to their own devices.

These people are unfortunate, sad stories about the failures of governments to serve their people. Some of them, like many of our grandparents, are even genocide survivors. Maybe, in that light, Israel does have a moral obligation to help those particular refugees in some way; that doesn't mean sacrificing its own national security by haphazardly letting anyone into its borders. Deciding who actually is a refugee of genocide, who is seeking better work opportunity, and who is a security threat sneaking in under false pretenses is key. Practically speaking, that means detaining people until that can get done.

Maybe it also means using diplomatic means to pressure Egypt into handling them properly so that they don't fear for their lives and/or die of starvation. As a direct neighbor, Egypt is one of the countries actually lawfully responsible for harboring refugees from Sudan anyway. Maybe that means granting temporary visas to Darfuri refugees, and creating a well organized social agency to help them. From what I understand, the U.N. outpost in Israel has been the one to champion their cause, and we know how smarmy and morally high-handed those U.N. folks are when it comes to Israel. If they actually honored the statues of international law they would be aiming more of that at Egypt