Israeli Government To Refugees: Go Back To Africa Or Go To Prison
Source: Washington Post
By William Booth May 14 at 6:14 PM
HOLOT, Israel As Europe struggles to stem a spring flood of migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to cross a deadly Mediterranean Sea, Israel has begun to toughen its stance toward refugees, telling unwanted Africans here they must leave now or face an indefinite stay in prison.
Israeli authorities are sending letters to the first of 45,000 Eritrean and Sudanese refugees, informing them they have 30?days to accept Israels offer of $3,500 in cash and a one-way ticket home or to an unnamed third country in Africa, or face incarceration at Saharonim prison.
Israeli leaders have proclaimed that their tough approach building a fence along its border, denying work permits for illegal migrants, forcing them into a detention center in the desert may ultimately save lives by dissuading migrants from attempting a perilous journey. Critics of the Israeli policy counter that a country built by refugees should be more accepting of those fleeing war, poverty and oppression.
But these days, even liberal Europe is considering a more muscular approach. The European Union began a push Monday for U.N. authorization to deploy military force in the Mediterranean to stop migrant smuggling ships.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/toughening-its-stance-toward-migrants-israel-pushes-africans-to-leave/2015/05/14/e1637bce-f350-11e4-bca5-21b51bbdf93e_story.html
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Apartheid.
And they get away with it because they are buddy, buddy with the USA.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)I recall the two governments discussing this a while back
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)1monster
(11,012 posts)If irony were iron ingots.
Those of us who study history can only watch in horror as those who don't repeat it (in smaller ways, perhaps, but serious mistakes (?) are the same).
Lodestar
(2,388 posts)Gee, where have we heard that story before?
Just as ironic as Israel's great wall that divides Palestinians from Israelis.
Hoppy
(3,595 posts)LeftishBrit
(41,210 posts)Same racism and mean-spiritedness as shown by many other countries.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,711 posts)Oh, xenophobia stinks too...
LeftishBrit
(41,210 posts)heaven05
(18,124 posts)the complete truth. of the matter in Israel and Europe...
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)Hmmm. Just a day or so ago we were calling them refugee boats. That's an intentional shift in connotation.
Looks like the ubiquitous They have stepped in to stop any country of humans from behaving with any humanity.
marble falls
(57,204 posts)LeftishBrit
(41,210 posts)dembotoz
(16,832 posts)If the thought they could get away with it
LeftishBrit
(41,210 posts)I HATE people/governments who are not only cruel to others, but act as though they are really doing the others a favour by being cruel. They aren't attempting this journey for fun or adventure, but out of desperation.
The UK to its shame has done similar things. Refusing to send rescuers to the Mediterranean in order to discourage refugees from escaping by boat from their countries - as though they were doing this in order to go on holiday. Over 1000 people so far have drowned as a result of these policies. Our Katrina, I call it. Shameful.
The worst was in the run-up to the election, when the Tories and to some extent other parties were running scared of UKIP. At least, bad as our result was, we didn't end up with the Tories in coalition with UKIP, the BNP and similar. Whereas Israel got the equivalent of that. So it's not surprising that they are pursuing viciously xenophobic policies. Pure PR is not always a good electoral system.
Beauregard
(376 posts)Android3.14
(5,402 posts)How is this a good offer?
Jazzgirl
(3,744 posts)Why are you on this site? You seem to be in the wrong place.
Beauregard
(376 posts)The US doesn't offer thousands of dollars to the illegals it deports.
As to my "being in the wrong place," I was not aware that everyone has to oppose Israel's immigration policies to "be" here.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)heaven05
(18,124 posts)just need some empathy. Do you feel the same about america's "illegals" and would you say the same thing about an offer such as this to the thousands of people seeking some kind of safety from oppressive conditions?
heaven05
(18,124 posts)but isn't your moniker the same as a gen. P.G.T Beauregard of the confederate army? Just curious. A hero of yours? Just asking.
Beauregard
(376 posts)I think that's the fourth personal question that you have asked me. I find this offensive. I am not going to try to prove my bona fides to you or anyone else. You can take any attitude toward me that you like. I really don't care. But if you keep on asking me personal questions, I believe there will be a case for stalking.
BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)Beauregard
(376 posts)Your presupposition is mistaken.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)for me to have asked "personal" questions. That's just not true. As far as the stalking accusation?....bullshit. Put it up for a vote. I was just curious.....that's all... in all my questions.....wasn't trying to be "offensive"....so Don't make statements that could be construed as offensive by me. Those Ethiopians just want a better life. To kick them while they are down is pretty cruel, but in today's world what can I expect from all with no stake in helping in brown people in humanitarian crisis. Typical of them, I'd say.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)nothing "good" about it....geez
christx30
(6,241 posts)in Africa that's causing the migration? Is it the local governments? It infuriates me that people are so mistreated by their own leaders that they have to leave in order to save their own lives.
Sgt Preston
(133 posts)Unfortunately the US government's predatory lending policies are part of the reason for the poverty in that country that drives people to leave their homeland for the US to seek a better life.