On Jan. 4, the Israeli government made the decision to send 37,000 African immigrants out of Israel. Most of these immigrants are from Eritrea and Sudan.
According to the government, these migrants came into the country illegally. The government is calling them “infiltrators.” The government believes that many of the migrants came into the country mainly for work rather than asylum. By Feb. 5, those who did not have a refugee application pending were sent out notices informing them that they had two months to leave the country, and those who would stay would be thrown in jail. There were about 20,000 male African migrants who received these notices from the government.
According to Fox News, the Israeli Government are also offering the migrants $3,500 and a plane ticket to do just that. According to Fox News migrant aid worker Adi Drori-Avraham, “We see here the implementation of the decision,” She adds, “From today when a person goes to request an extension to their visa, if he does not have a pending asylum application… his visa will not be renewed and he will be given a deportation order,” The rule has a exception for women, children, parents of children, and victims of human trafficking, but this is only temporary.
This has been raising a lot concern and even outrage throughout Israel. Many people have taken the side of the migrants considering the countless times Israel has been oppressed. Many believe they should show compassion to the people who came to Israel to seek safety. Many have left their homes and their families while in fear of their lives in order to get to Israel. Many citizens will continue to protest and fight back in hopes of keeping the immigrants in the country.
Sources: Fox, The Guardian, Reuters.
Lenora Kirkland 
Colin Tomczak 
Ella Curcuruto