Israel began warning thousands of African migrants on Sunday that they must leave by the end of March under a plan that could see them jailed if they refuse.
On January 3, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the implementation of a plan to deport about 38,000 migrants who had entered the country illegally, mainly Eritreans and Sudanese.
The controversial plan gives them until the end of next month to leave voluntarily or face jail and eventual expulsion. Immigration authority spokeswoman Sabine Haddad told AFP that officials began issuing migrants letters on Sunday advising them that they had 60 days in which to leave the country voluntarily.
For now, the notices are being given only to men without families, officials said. Israeli newspaper Haaretz said “anyone recognised as a victim of slavery or human trafficking, and those who had requested asylum by the end of 2017 but haven’t gotten a response” would also be exempt for now. It added that this left the number subject to near-term deportation at “between 15,000 and 20,000 people”.
The authority is offering those who agree to leave a grant of $3,500, a flight ticket and help with obtaining travel documents. Should they not leave by the deadline, the grant would be reduced and “enforcement measures” would be taken against them and anyone employing them, the authority says. Israel refers to the tens of thousands of African migrants who entered the country illegally from neighbouring Egypt as “infiltrators”.
Israeli officials tacitly recognise that it is too dangerous to return Sudanese and Eritreans to their troubled homelands, but local media say the notices do not specify where departing migrants would be sent. Aid workers and media have named Uganda and Rwanda, although both countries deny being a destination for migrants being expelled involuntarily. Public opposition to the plan has been slow to build, but some Israeli airline pilots have reportedly said they will not fly forced deportees. Academics have published a petition and Israeli Holocaust survivors wrote an open letter to Netanyahu last month pleading with him to reconsider.
The UN refugee agency has called on Israel to scrap the plan, calling it incoherent and unsafe. A 2016 UN commission of inquiry into Eritrea’s regime found “widespread and systematic” crimes against humanity, and said an estimated 5,000 people flee the country each month. The International Criminal Court has indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide linked to his regime’s counter-insurgency tactics in the Darfur conflict.
Source: newvision.co.ug
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For me ; it is quite intersting how history finds someway to repeat itself or manfest its evil colours in different ways to mankind; this Isreali government headed by Nyantayahu seem to have suddenly forgotten history ; they have forgotten biblical history of how the the lion of Judah fell into slavery and were scattered over the world ; this Isreali government have forgotten the appalling treatment his ancestors recived under the Germans and how they were deported to to roasted by the Germans ; the these Askanazi europe including the Prime Minister have forgotten how his grand parents suffered in eastern europe ; today they have the nerve to an immigrants and the Palestines; this poisoned aparthied by this Isreali government is a lesson to Africans to manage their continent; the trouble is that some of these African states go to the Israeli government begging for funds given to them by the US
it is sammy but how many foreigners do you see in Ghana and the African continent as a whole bro? why can't will build the African continent blessed by GOD ALMIGHTY for us and our children? we are too lazy and corrupt to build this fertile land given to us by GOD. I think trump and this benjamin are trying to come to our senses by calling us all sort of names so that we can build africa. IF YOU DON'T BUILD,HOW CAN YOU ENJOY BRO?
When will African leaders learn sense to rule their countries without corruption? Look at what Mahama and his NDC have done to Ghanaians! We have become slaves scattered all over the world. Go to the Eskimo land you will see a Ghanaian there. 27 years rule by AFRC,PNDC,NDC1 and NDC2 are the causes of our woes. Their propaganda machinery is very strong to hoodwink most Ghanaians, especially those from the North and Volta Region. EC is also a contributory factor- almost the workers there are NDC members, appointed by Rawlings. They always rig the elections for them. Kuffour came to power through the help of the British High Commissioner in Ghana. Kuffour came he did well. Mahama came he destroyed it. Akuffo Addo has come and he is trying to salvage things. If Ghanaians make another mistake and vote for the NDC, Ghanaians will be doomed forever and ever. Mark my words!
If not racism why single out African Migrants?
NOT SURPRISING AT ALL: THIS GUY ABD TRUMP ARE IN BED-THE MOST RECIST PRESIDENT EVER. DURING OBAMA'S REGIME THIS GUY CAME TO ADDRESS CONGRESS WITHOUT THYE "FORMAL KNOWLEDGE" OF OBAMA. HIS HATRED FOR BLACK PEOPLE EQUAL THAT OF TRUMP. THEY BEHAVE A S THEY OWN THE WORLD. GOD IS WATCHING!!
Hmmm this black skin that God gave us, it is a magnet for hatred.
I thought I guys said Israel was Heaven on earth?
IT LOOKS LIKE ISRAEL IS DOING THIS BECAUSE OF VOTES OF MANY AFRICANS VOTE AGAINST JERUSALEM AS CAPITAL OF ISRAEL.
Israel as in the holy books. Don't you wrong you all will go to 7 feet with no Israel or any property.