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Eritrean asylum seekers at Levinsky park Tel Aviv. January 8, 2014

The term "non-Jewish African refugees" mainly refers to Sudanese and Eritrean refugee populations immigrating to Israel through the Sinai Desert. Israeli policy toward these refugees has evolved from neutrality toward determent.[1] These populations began arriving in Israel in the mid-2000s, led by Bedouin smugglers.[2] The current population is around 36,000.[3]

Most of these refugees have a legal status bestowed by "conditional release" visas, which are not valid work permits in Israel. This severely limits their economic opportunities.[4] This and other factors have led to discrimination and racism. There have been cases of violent riots targeting African Refugees in Tel Aviv, although those involved were arrested and punished by the Israeli government.[5]

Attitudes among Israeli citizens living in neighborhoods with large refugee populations are mixed. Some have claimed refugees are "rapists" and "criminals", while others in the same neighborhood described them as "peaceful and kind."[6] With tensions rising and shifting Israeli policy, both discrimination[7] and support have increased.[8]

Evolution of Israeli Policy

2001–2006

Prior to 2001, the Israeli government did not have any specific directives for how to handle incoming refugee policies. Determination of refugee status was outsourced to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Until 2006 there were no challenges to the system, due to low refugee numbers.[9] A new process was later formed, in which the UNHCR would process asylum applications and send a recommendation to the Israeli National Status Granting Body, who was tasked with deciding refugee status. If approved, those individuals would receive temporary residency and temporary work permits in Israel.[4] However, the Israeli government granted only 170 permits of this kind between 2002-2005. All individuals who were identified as "citizens of enemy states" were not allowed into the asylum process. This was the status for all Sudanese refugees in Israel. (Israel does not currently have diplomatic relations with Sudan.)[4]

The rapid increase in the Eritrean and Sudanese populations beginning in 2006 changed the Israeli policy to one of deterrence for these populations by creating an environment that is undesirable for refugees.[4] In 2007, the Israeli government issued three-month, renewable "conditional release" visas, which allowed Eritrean and Sudanese refugees to work. However, in 2010 all visas upon renewal were issued with a stamp indicating "This visa is not a working permit."[4] This policy ensured that while refugees were protected from deportation to their countries of origins, they could not legally work in Israel. Due to the precarious legal work status of refugees, they are discriminated against for work and rely on infrequent jobs to make ends meet.[4]

2006–2008

Prior to 2006 and through 2007, there was a policy of detainment for all refugees from "enemy states" for months at a time. This policy was later discontinued.[9] In addition, there was a policy of returning refugees to the Sinai desert after having crossed the border into Israel, but this policy was also discontinued due to an Israeli Supreme Court decision.[9]

2009–2014

In 2009, the Israeli government formed a Refugee Status Determination unit within the Population, Immigration and Border Authority, which would handle all asylum requests and temporary group protections. Most of the Sudanese and Eritrean refugees fall under the latter determination, which significantly delays their registration as a refugee.[9]

In 2012, Israel built a fence along the border of Egypt to block illegal African refugees from entering. This has significantly decreased the influx of Sudanese and Eritrean refugees into Israel.[10] Later that same year, an "emergency plan" was set in motion to deport the refugees to their home countries. Voluntary deportees would receive 1000 euros.[11]

2015–2018

By 2015, the Israeli government began giving Sudanese and Eritrean refugees a choice to either return to their home countries, move to another state, or be imprisoned.[12] Many migrants live in the Holot detention facility, in which they are free to leave during the day, but must return at night or face imprisonment.[12]

In the spring of 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached a deal with the UNHCR to resettle a large number of refugees in Western nations over a period of five years. Israel agreed to temporary residency to those who remained.[13] The deal fell apart soon after it was reached due to pressure from within Netanyahu's own government.[13]

References

  1. ^ AM, Yardena Schwartz On 10/13/15 at 10:54 (2015-10-13). "Non-Jewish Refugees Get a Cold Shoulder in Israel". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Furst-Nichols, Rebecca; Jacobsen, Karen (January 2011). "African Migration to Israel: Debt, Employment and Remittances" (PDF). Feinstein International Center: 1–20 – via Tufts University.
  3. ^ Eglash, Ruth (2018-04-25). "Israel scraps contested plan to deport tens of thousands of African migrants". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Yaron, Hadas; Hashimshony-Yaffe, Nurit; Campbell, John (2013-04-15). ""Infiltrators" or Refugees? An Analysis of Israel's Policy Towards African Asylum-Seekers" (PDF). International Migration. 51 (4): 144–157. doi:10.1111/imig.12070. ISSN 0020-7985.
  5. ^ "Violent Riots Target African Nationals Living In Israel". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  6. ^ "South Tel Aviv residents show mixed emotions about African refugee crisis". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  7. ^ "Israel to African refugees: You're not welcome here". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  8. ^ "20,000 Israelis Protest Deportation of African Asylum Seekers". Haaretz. 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  9. ^ a b c d Paz, Yonathan (March 2011). "Ordered disorder: African asylum seekers in Israel and discursive challenges to an emerging refugee regime" (PDF). New Issues in Refugee Research. Research Paper No. 205: 1–21 – via United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  10. ^ Ben Zikri, Almog (March 20, 2018). "Netanyahu Defends Egypt Border Fence: Influx of African Migrants More Dangerous Than Terrorism". Haaretz.
  11. ^ Hamilton, Douglas (June 11, 2012). "Israel rounds up African migrants for deportation". Reuters.
  12. ^ a b Booth, William (May 14, 2015). "Israeli government to refugees: Go back to Africa or go to prison". The Washington Post.
  13. ^ a b Kershner, Isabel (April 2, 2018). "Israeli Leader Is Forced to Retreat on African Migrant Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Israeli_policy_for_non-Jewish_African_refugees&oldid=883931710

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