Netanyahu calls for the deportation of “trouble-making” Eritrean refugees | Benjamin Netanyahu News

The Israeli prime minister also asked the ministers to present him with plans to “remove all other illegal infiltrators”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he wants the Eritrean refugees and migrants involved in a violent clash in Tel Aviv to be deported immediately, and has ordered a plan to deport all African migrants from the country.

The remarks came a day after bloody protests by rival groups of Eritreans in south Tel Aviv left scores injured.

“We want tough measures against rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who participated,” Netanyahu said at a special cabinet meeting convened to deal with the aftermath of Sunday’s violence.

He asked ministers to present him with plans to “remove all other illegal infiltrators,” and noted in his remarks that the Supreme Court had struck down some measures intended to force refugees to leave.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a special ministerial team to evaluate ways to deal with infiltrators who violate the law, in the wake of the unrest and violence that took place in Tel Aviv yesterday.

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– Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 3, 2023

Under international law, Israel cannot forcibly return migrants to a country where their lives or freedom would be in danger.

Ahead of an official visit to Cyprus, Netanyahu said the ministerial team was seeking to deport 1,000 Eritrean government supporters who took part in Saturday’s violence.

“They don’t have the right to refugee status. They support this regime,” Netanyahu said. “If they support the regime so much, it’s better if they go back to their country of origin.”

About 25,000 African immigrants live in Israel, mostly from Sudan and Eritrea, and say they fled conflict or oppression. Israel recognizes very few asylum seekers, overwhelmingly considering them economic migrants, and says it has no legal obligation to keep them.

On Sunday, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited the site of the unrest, expressing support for the police and calling for those who break the law to be placed in detention until deportation. “They don’t need to be here. This is not their place,” he said.

Some people harassed Bin Juffair while he was walking with the police, and asked him to “go home.”

Paul Brennan of Al Jazeera, in West Jerusalem, said that politicians on both sides of parliament had their say on the matter.

“The far-right coalition in Netanyahu’s government is demanding the deportation of instigators and gang leaders,” he said, adding that the coalition blames the Supreme Court for blocking attempts to deport people in the past.

“Members of the opposition in the Knesset say that successive governments have failed to understand this issue and to deal with the situation,” Brennan said.

“There is politics involved in this,” Brennan noted, adding that Netanyahu “clearly wants to be seen doing something.”

Earlier on Saturday, Eritreans – supporters and opponents of the Eritrean government – confronted construction timber, pieces of metal and rocks, and smashed shop windows and police cars.

Israeli riot police fired tear gas, stun grenades and live bullets as officers on horseback tried to control the demonstrators.

Under international law, Israel cannot forcibly return migrants to a country where their lives or freedom would be in danger.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said he did not think the deportation of Eritrean government supporters would be a problem.

Al Jazeera’s Brennan said opposition parliamentarians questioned Netanyahu’s response to the violence, and asked him where the refugees would be deported.

Israel recognizes very few asylum seekers, overwhelmingly considering them economic migrants, and says it has no legal obligation to keep them.

The country has tried a variety of tactics to force them out, including sending some to a remote prison, withholding part of their wages until they agree to leave the country or offering cash payments to those who agree to move to another country, somewhere in Africa. . Critics accuse the government of trying to force the migrants to leave.