Israel rounds up African migrants for deportation

[Estevao]

From The Washtington Post

By Associated Press, Monday, June 11, 4:01 AM

JERUSALEM — Israeli authorities detained dozens of African migrants in predawn raids early Monday, in the first major step toward what leaders say will be deportation of 4,500 people who have entered the country illegally.

The arrests were the harshest move yet against migrants, reflecting growing concern about the effect on Israel of tens of thousands of Africans who have sneaked into the country across the porous Egyptian border in recent years.

Israeli leaders have grown increasingly alarmed by the influx, calling it a burden and threat to the country’s Jewish character.

I hope that the Holy Father will denounce this, as he has always stuck up for refugees in the past.

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by Estevao

I hope that the Holy Father will denounce this, as he has always stuck up for refugees in the past.

Has the pope denounced the deportations carried out by the United States? Certainly the US has had similar policies, on a much larger scale, for a long time.

From the article:

The continued arrival of the Africans, and the legal uncertainty, have spurred action. Israel is racing to build a fence along its Egyptian border to halt the influx, and it has begun work on a huge detention center in its southern desert. The government has begun imposing penalties on businesses that employ unauthorized immigrants, and this week, it announced that in addition to the detention center, it plans to build a tent city to hold 20,000 new arrivals.

[GEddie]

The country is geographically tiny. Are they expected to just take in everybody?

There is also a security issue, far more than in the USA.

ICXC NIKA

[lerapt78]

I read about this a while ago. Are these refugees Ethiopian Jews?

[_Abyssinia]

Originally Posted by lerapt78

I read about this a while ago. Are these refugees Ethiopian Jews?

That is what I am wondering.

[SamH]

Originally Posted by Dale_M

Has the pope denounced the deportations carried out by the United States? Certainly the US has had similar policies, on a much larger scale, for a long time.

From the article:

Can anyone name a country that does not do this?

[scipio337]

Originally Posted by lerapt78

I read about this a while ago. Are these refugees Ethiopian Jews?

No. Beta Israel members are eligible for the "Right of Return"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aliyah_from_Ethiopia

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by lerapt78

I read about this a while ago. Are these refugees Ethiopian Jews?

I doubt it, since all Jews have a right to return to Israel. More likely, they're "economic refugees". One notices that they didn't stay in Egypt or go to any other "Arab Spring" country. They went where there is economic opportunity. That's part of the reason why Arab Israelis don't leave either.

[ringil]

Originally Posted by lerapt78

I read about this a while ago. Are these refugees Ethiopian Jews?

I would doubt it. Israel has taken those folks in. If it is something has gone really wrong in their approach but, again I doubt it.