Israeli Government To Refugees: Go Back To Africa Or Go To Prison

[Purveyor]

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 Israel’s 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]

1. Israel is the most openly racist country on earth

Apartheid.

And they get away with it because they are buddy, buddy with the USA.

[Scootaloo]

2. The "Unnamed country" is likely Uganda

I recall the two governments discussing this a while back

[Marrah_G]

3. oh the irony....

[1monster]

6. Yes. There is enough irony here to keep a steel mill supplied for a decade...

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]

8. My thoughts exactly.... a people, refugees... looking for a land to call home, a safe haven.

Gee, where have we heard that story before?

Just as ironic as Israel's great wall that divides Palestinians from Israelis.

[Hoppy]

4. They're goyim. What's the problem?

[LeftishBrit]

11. It's not that they're 'goyim'; it's that they're poor and black and immigrants

Same racism and mean-spiritedness as shown by many other countries.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. "Goyim" is an ugly word and it stinks of shtetls and anti-semitism.

Oh, xenophobia stinks too...

[LeftishBrit]

18. Agree on all fronts.

[heaven05]

20. +1000

the complete truth. of the matter in Israel and Europe...

[Android3.14]

5. "migrant smuggling ships"?

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]

7. Good point. Exodus, refugee ships. Eritean refugees, migrant smuggling ships.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Sadly true.

[dembotoz]

9. no wonder the GOP loves nutty yahoo so much. the immigration policy GOP would support

If the thought they could get away with it

[LeftishBrit]

10. 'may ultimately save lives by dissuading migrants from attempting a perilous journey'

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]

13. Good offer. They should take it.

They have 30?days to accept Israel’s offer of $3,500 in cash and a one-way ticket home or to an unnamed third country in Africa

[Android3.14]

14. Interesting use of the word "good"

How is this a good offer?

[Jazzgirl]

15. If you think that's a good offer....

Why are you on this site? You seem to be in the wrong place.

[Beauregard]

16. It's a good offer.

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]

19. We don't have "illegals." We have people here without the proper paperwork.

[heaven05]

22. you don't have to oppose

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]

23. correct me if I'm wrong

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]

24. Is this an interrogation?

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]

26. ...

[Beauregard]

28. Your post doesn't offend me at all.

Your presupposition is mistaken.

[heaven05]

30. You haven't been here long enough

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]

21. it their only safe choice

nothing "good" about it....geez

[christx30]

25. What can be done to fix the problems

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]

29. I feel the same way about Mexico.

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.

[BeanMusical]

27. Kick and R.