ICER Alert: Israeli Laws and the Barring of Refugees from its Territory

ICER Alert: Israeli Laws and the Barring of Refugees from its Territory

Recently the Israeli defense force prevented 42 Eritrean would be asylum seekers from entering Israel by forcefully handing them over to the Egyptian border guards. This is a new phenomenon that surprised many human right workers among them the Hotline for Migrant Workers and the Refugee Right Forum. In the past those able to sneak to Israel were allowed to stay temporarily without being provided any assistance. It is not surprise therefore, that in the month of July 250 were able to enter Israel against 2000 in June. It is sad irony; the Israeli border is getting tighter by the day putting the criminals in Sinai out of business. The tough stance of the Israeli authorities is also hoped to decrease or even stop the uncontrollable flow of Eritreans to Israel. In an interview conducted by Meron, an ICER member reveals that, those returned to Egypt are now languishing in Egyptian prisons until their opportunity to return to Sudan and Ethiopia is realized. The state of Israel is also busy passing laws to prevent refugees from entering its territory. Below are some laws and regulations that are in effect and few in the process

*The Anti-Infiltration Bill is passed into law on January 10, 2012. The purpose of the law is to deter asylum seekers from entering Israel. Refugees who try to circumvent the new law will be arrested and deported but not before serving three years in one of the 57 Israeli detention centers.

*Law Criminalizing Employment, Providing Shelter or Renting Accommodation and Transporting Asylum Seekers has its first reading in July 25 and will be adapted shortly. This law will scare Israelis who provide jobs, shelter or perhaps humanitarian services.

*On July 8, the Israeli government proposed an amendment to the Anti-Infiltration Law that would prohibit the transfer of funds from Israel by asylum seekers. This amendment passed its First Reading on July 25. This law will put serious obstacles to the families and clans in Iasrael who collect money for the criminals to release their loved ones. Unfortunately, this law will affect remittance to families at home.

*Similarly on July 8, the Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved a draft amendment to the law on migrant workers that requires those who employ infiltrators to deposit up to NIS 700 a month. This sum of money is deposited on behalf of the migrant workers with permission  to work in Israel. After completion of their contract, deportation or voluntary depart from Israel the money will be given to the person on whose name the money is deposited.

*On August 6, the Israeli Justice ministry has tabled a motion for the adaption of new regulation that would bar asylum seekers from filing lawsuits in Israeli courts

*According to the law proposed by the Israeli Ministry of Interior on July 22, migrants who arrived in Israel and whose entry was denied will be unable to appeal the verdict but only after they left the state of Israel.

Understandably these barrage of laws were challenged by the Hotline for Migrant Workers, together with the Refugee Right Forum.

ICER as always urges refugees in various camps not to be enticed by the criminals to leave their safe heaven nor undertake the perilous journey to Egypt, Libya and beyond.

{jcomments off}