Last update - 00:00 23/09/2007
PMO: Number of Africans coming to Israel has dropped sharply
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
The number of African infiltrators attempting to cross into Israel from Egypt has dropped sharply, according to figures released Sunday by the Prime Minister's Office.
According to the figures, since the start of September, 150 refugees crossed into Israel, as opposed to the 900 who came in July.
The PMO attributed the drop to an agreement signed between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in which the latter promised to prevent the infiltration of Africans into Israel, and to receive those who Israel would return.
Since the agreement was reached, Egyptian border police have shot to death refugees seeking asylum in Israel in at least three incidents.
According to the figures released on Sunday, there are currently 498 refugees in Israel from Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur, and they will be absorbed by Israel.
PMO sources said that the quota for refugees to be absorbed Israel has been filled, and any additional African not from Darfur who crosses into Israel, or who is currently in Israel, will be transferred to a third country in Africa.
The government is expected to approve on Sunday the appointment of Yaakov Ganot, the head of the Interior Ministry's Population Registry, as head of the interministerial program to absorb the refugees from Darfur.