[NYTr] Israel turns away Darfur refugees

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by rick kissell

BBC - Aug 20, 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6954663.stm

Israel turns away Darfur refugees

Israel will in future turn away all illegal entrants from Sudan's 
war-torn region of Darfur, a top official says.

The policy applies to new arrivals only, while some 500 people from 
Darfur already in Israel will be permitted to stay for "humanitarian 
reasons".

Israel is struggling to stem the flow of Africans entering the country 
via its southern border with Egypt.

Overnight, Israel handed 48 Sudanese people back to Egypt, according to 
Egyptian security officials.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Egypt accepted the 
refugees for "very pressing humanitarian reasons" but such a move
"would not be repeated again".

At least 200,000 people are believed to have died and more than two 
million displaced in Darfur since fighting broke out in 2003 between 
rebels and pro-government militias.

Prospects of work

Israeli spokesman David Baker said on Sunday: "The policy of returning 
back anyone who enters Israel illegally will pertain to everyone, 
including those from Darfur."

Last month, Israel's interior ministry said a limited number of
Darfuris would be allowed to remain in Israel as it was "clear that
they have suffered the most".

As many as 50 asylum seekers arrive in Israel each day, lured by the 
prospect of employment, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees 
estimates.

Israel estimates that 2,800 people have entered the country illegally
in recent years - nearly all were from Africa, including 1,160 from
Sudan.

However, some critics have said that Israel, which was created after
the Nazi persecution of the Jews during WWII, is morally obliged to
offer sanctuary to people fleeing persecution.

© BBC MMVII