20,000 Demonstrate in Tel Aviv Against the Deportation of African Asylum Seekers

In the world's most racist state, Two out of every Three Israelis Support the Deportation of Black African Refugees

The anti-deportation protest in Tel Aviv on February 24, 2018. (Courtesy)

In what was an impressive demonstration, 20,000 people – refugees and Israelis – demonstrated on Saturday in Tel Aviv.  The equivalent size in Britain for such a demonstration would be about 200,000.

Nonetheless opinion polls in Israel show that about two in every three Israelis, in what is the most racist state in the world, support the attempts by Netanyahu and the government to deport the asylum seekers.

To date just 11 asylum seekers have been granted refugee status.  Compare this with some 90% success for Eritrean refugees in Europe.  Israel is simply refusing to process asylum applications.  Last week a court held that those who had escaped from the Eritrean army were entitled to refugee status.

Meanwhile Israel has begun to gaol refugees who refuse to accept deportation although it seems that the Israeli prison service, which is full with Palestinian prisoners, cannot cope with such a huge influx.

Below is an excellent video from Abby Martin on the anti-Black racism in Israel’s Jewish supremacist state.

It is surprising that the Jewish Labour Movement and Labour Friends of Israel, who are so concerned about non-existent 'anti-semitism' in the Labour Party, have yet to condemn this racist attempt to deport refugees in order to safeguard Israel's Jewish majority and the support of the Israeli Labour Party for Netanyahu by their 'sister' party in Israel.

Tony Greenstein

Empire Files: Anti-Black Racism Reveals Israel’s White Supremacy

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Israelis and refugees come together in Tel Aviv to demonstrate against the government policy jailing those who refuse to leave the country

Ilan Lior

Feb 24, 2018 

Around 20,000 Israelis gathered alongside African asylum seekers in Tel Aviv to protest against the Israeli government's policy of deportations and imprisonment of the asylum seekers.

The protest took place in south Tel Aviv, where most of the city's asylum seekers live, and local residents have long complained about their presence there.

Protesters carried signs reading, "No to deportation," "We're all humans" and "Refugees and residents refuse to be enemies."

Israelis and African asylum seekers protest against deportations and imprisonment, Tel Aviv, February 24, 2018.Meged Gozani

Togod Omer Adam, an asylum seeker from Sudan, spoke at the protest. "We did not choose to come here to south Tel Aviv. When people arrive at the border [between Israel and Egypt], they give you a one-way ticket to the central bus station in Tel Aviv."

He said that he understands the difficult situation this has created in south Tel Aviv, saying, "We are all victims in this story – the older Israelis residents and we, the asylum seekers. We all live here and for so long they have tried to make us fear one another."

Earlier this week, Israel began jailing citizens of African countries for refusing to leave of their own accord.

Israelis and African asylum seekers protest against deportations and imprisonment, Tel Aviv, February 24, 2018.Meged Gozani

On Tuesday night, all asylum seekers at the Holot detention center began a hunger strike in response. Earlier in the day, seven Eritreans who held at Holot were summoned for pre-deportation hearings. After they refused to leave the country for either Eritrea or Rwanda, they were immediately transported to Saharonim Prison, apparently due to fear they would flee.

Two of the men survived torture in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula en route Israel, but their asylum requests were denied.

In line with new rules issued by the Interior Ministry’s Population, Immigration and Border Authority, they will be held at Saharonim indefinitely unless they change their minds.

African asylum seekers prepare for Saturday night's demonstration against deportations and imprisonment, Tel Aviv, February 24, 2018.Meged Gozani

Hundreds of asylum seekers marched from Holot to Saharonim on Thursday in protest of the government's policies.

15,000 protest deportation of asylum seekers in Tel Aviv

Among the slogans: "Money for the neighborhoods — not for another Holot [Detention Center]" and "No expulsion, no Holot — rebuild the neighborhoods."

By MAARIV ONLINE

February 24, 2018 21:45

Some 15,000 demonstrators protested the expulsion of mostly Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers and migrant workers, many of whom were present at the protest, from Israel. The demonstration was organized by Residents of South Tel Aviv Against Deportation and led by Shula Keshet, a resident of the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood in South Tel Aviv.

Among the slogans were "Money for the neighborhoods — not for another Holot [Detention Center]" and "No expulsion, no Holot — rebuild the neighborhoods."

Israeli detention centre

Israel's migrant deportation plays on Jewish 'moral compass' February 6, 2018 (Reuters)

"I stand here shouting a scream that echoed a wound, rage and protest against the constant and longstanding abuse of the residents of South Tel Aviv," Keshet said. "Of trafficking drugs and trafficking women, into a crowded ghetto by channeling tens of thousands of people, migrant workers and asylum seekers here, into a violent space."

Omar Adam, an asylum seeker from Sudan, had a message for his neighbors in South Tel Aviv.

"I want to say something straight to my neighbors from the Shapira neighborhood who are here today," he said. "I know you do not want to — I know that you do not want me to have a bad thing ... The people of South Tel Aviv who are here today know that what is being said in the media is not reality."

Eric Sumner translated this report.

Three residents of South Tel Aviv attending the anti-deportation protest in Tel Aviv on February 24, 2018. Their headbands read "against the deportation." (Courtesy)