Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 10, 2008 Adar2 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:40 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Sudanese refugees in Israel. (Alberto Dankberg)
Last update - 15:42 02/07/2007
Olmert: Egypt vowed not to expel Sudan refugees deported from Israel
By Shahar Ilan, Ruth Sinai, Barak Ravid and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday Egyptian authorities had pledged that the Sudanese refugees Israel is set to deport to Egypt will not be forced to return to Sudan.

Olmert spoke at a Knesset Foreign and Defense Committee meeting, which was convened after a migrant workers' rights group threatened legal action if asylum seekers were deported back to danger zones, endangering their lives.

According to Olmert, most of the deportation candidates infiltrated Israel in search of work, and therefore there is no reason to allow them to remain in the country and to "establish a community that could grow to hundreds of thousands."
Advertisement
The prime minister said that Israel would absorb a group of refugees from Darfur, but clarified that refugees from other areas will be deported.

The Interior Ministry's proposal to deport the refugees had human rights and foreign workers' support groups up in arms. The Hotline for Migrant Workers threatened to petition the High Court of Justice "if the state tries to deport those seeking asylum without evaluating their request."

The Hotline issued a statement warning that "the deportation of asylum seekers to Egypt without receiving assurances that they will not be deported to their countries constitutes a blatant violation of international law."

The organization points to United Nations conventions on refugees, to which Israel is a signatory, forbidding the deportation of people seeking asylum to a country where they could be exposed to conditions that could threaten their lives.

"Egypt has a proven record of returning refugees to their country of origin, where they died," the organization's statement charges.

In the past, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees had made it clear to Israel that it opposed the deporting of refugees if no guarantees were secured that they would not be sent back to Sudan.

In Sudan, people who have been to Israel may face threats to their lives.

In talks Sunday on the African refugees, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that any refugee caught crossing into Israel from Egypt would be returned to that country through an official crossing. Olmert said the matter had been finalized in discussions with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak last week.

The prime minister also said Mubarak has promised that Egypt would step up its efforts to stem the flow of African refugees seeking to cross into Israel from Sinai.

However, in a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, there was no reference to whether Olmert had been given guarantees by Mubarak that the refugees would not be sent to Sudan.

The statement only mentioned that the Israel Defense Forces' role would be to track and arrest the refugees and return them to Egypt through the official border crossings "on the basis of Egyptian commitment guaranteeing their well-being."

In the statement, Israel would "examine the possibility of assisting a small number of the refugees from Darfur who are now in Israel."

However, this would only be done "after the influx of the refugees is completely contained."

According to an inter-ministerial committee, which was headed by Interior Minister Roni Bar-On and which presented its conclusions on refugees crossing into Israel from Sinai, about 1,400 such illegal immigrants are currently in Israel.

Most of them are from Sudan and Eritrea, and they are believed to have been motivated by economic reasons in sneaking into Israel.

The committee also noted that the Sinai is used not only by African economic refugees, but by some from Eastern Europe and East Asia.

At least 350 of those who crossed from Sinai are refugees from the crisis in Darfur in western Sudan.

The board chairman of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum, Yosef Lapid, said Sunday that as far as he is aware there is no intention to deport any refugees from Darfur - only those from other parts of Sudan.

He warned that if Darfur refugees are deported, there will be public opposition and he will be part of it.
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
State policy
Olmert approves plan for 750 new homes in West Bank settlement of Givat Ze'ev.
Sticking to his story
Director of 'Jenin, Jenin' swears there are no falsehoods in his movie.
  1.   refugees 06:54  |  Joe 02/07/07
  2.   Refugees are better off leaving Israel 07:52  |  Natallie Durson 02/07/07
  3.   is israel above g_d ? 08:20  |  VIPER 02/07/07
  4.   Refugees from Genocide 08:21  |  Bryan 02/07/07
  5.   BRAVO 08:28  |  PARIS 02/07/07
  6.   #2 Natalie 08:28  |  Avi 02/07/07
  7.   re. 2 08:37  |  Max 02/07/07
  8.   African refugees should turn to foreign consulat in Egypt 08:53  |  Joseph E . 02/07/07
  9.   #2 09:00  |  Aharon Rosenbaum 02/07/07
  10.   Where are the `deflectors` now? 09:27  |  Maureen Ann 02/07/07
  11.   We need a realistic solution 09:29  |  sg 02/07/07
  12.   Once again.... 09:51  |  Hastaroth 02/07/07
  13.   To Natalie Durson 10:13  |  Dr. Jack 02/07/07
  14.   Israel set to deport 10:37  |  Ralph 02/07/07
  15.   THEY ARE ECONOMIC REFUGEES 10:39  |  Carl 02/07/07
  16.   #4 Bryan 10:40  |  Very Funny 02/07/07
  17.   Shame, Shame, Shame 11:02  |  Yaron 02/07/07
  18.   Palestinians are economic refugees as well 11:30  |  Chick 02/07/07
  19.   Israel set to deport African refugees; rights groups vows legal a 11:41  |  jn 02/07/07
  20.   Protecting the Jewish character of Israel 11:44  |  Henry Loutard 02/07/07
  21.   "Nobody took the Jews in the second world war " 12:02  |  Sven Andersson 02/07/07
  22.   ashamed 12:07  |  ruben 02/07/07
  23.   10: Gee, Maureen, I don`t see you volunteering 12:47  |  david Teich 02/07/07
  24.   21: Read the article, Sven, they`re not going to Sudan 12:49  |  David Teich 02/07/07
  25.   What undermines the humanitarian argument 12:55  |  Yonatan 02/07/07
  26.   What everyone seems to ignore 12:58  |  Yonatan 02/07/07
  27.   20#Henry Retard 13:27  |  zebulonguy 02/07/07
  28.   Sven Andersson (Post No. 21) 13:45  |  Johnny Weintraub 02/07/07
  29.   The good thing about Israel is that now Jews 13:56  |  Andreas 02/07/07
  30.   Land of Sacrifints and Marytrs 14:05  |  US 02/07/07
  31.   Yaron -- Did you read the article? 14:24  |  bbl 02/07/07
  32.   Olmert made it clear 14:44  |  EhadHaAm 02/07/07
  33.   Sven Andersson read and learn 15:02  |  Steven 02/07/07
  34.   hypocrite 15:04  |  pvdh 02/07/07
  35.   Johnny Weintraub the boat people from Viet Nam 15:06  |  Steven 02/07/07
  36.   Shame on us 15:12  |  Dan 02/07/07
  37.   Missed oportunity 15:18  |  Dan 02/07/07
  38.   EGYPTIAN ATROCITIES Against SUDANESE REFUGEES (1) 16:26  |  Linda Rivera 02/07/07
  39.   then the un better take money given to pals give it to these peop 16:28  |  ralph 02/07/07
  40.   EGYPTIAN ATROCITIES Against SUDANESE REFUGEES (2) 16:30  |  Linda Rivera 02/07/07
  41.   EGYPTIAN ATROCITIES Against SUDANESE REFUGEES (3) 16:34  |  Linda Rivera 02/07/07
  42.   Reply to Steven (Post No. 35) 16:40  |  Johnny Weintraub 02/07/07
  43.   #4 Viper - There`s no law 16:41  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  44.   It`s a shame and violation of humanitarian law 16:43  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 02/07/07
  45.   we can only do so much the world also has an obligation 17:04  |  ralph 02/07/07
  46.   Africa Refugees 17:08  |  benateed 02/07/07
  47.   Just a thought 17:30  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  48.   #4 Bryan - You`re right, no if`s and`s or but`s 17:34  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  49.   Jews too were turned away in WW2 17:42  |  Sam 02/07/07
  50.   Dr. Jack 17:45  |  Christian American 02/07/07
  51.   Viper # 3 17:47  |  ChanahS 02/07/07
  52.   #44 Shlomo - TA 17:47  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  53.   Linda Rivera (write your congressman) 17:47  |  Steven 02/07/07
  54.   Hey Henry # 20 18:02  |  ChanahS 02/07/07
  55.   Johnny Weintraub 28 18:06  |  ChanahS 02/07/07
  56.   #47 Sam 18:23  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  57.   This is terribly Cruel & Insensitive 18:48  |  Dutch 02/07/07
  58.   No need for any shame 18:54  |  Yonatan 02/07/07
  59.   #50 Dutch - as you advised 19:21  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  60.   refegees 19:45  |  joseph 02/07/07
  61.   @ 49 Sam 20:05  |  ChanahS 02/07/07
  62.   Economic refugees 20:16  |  Alain 02/07/07
  63.   The US/EU & Western Nations Must take in SUDANESE Refugees Now!!! 20:19  |  Linda Rivera 02/07/07
  64.   Sudanese migrants 20:21  |  Alain 02/07/07
  65.   57: Is Dutch volunteering to host the refugees? 20:24  |  David Teich 02/07/07
  66.   Learn from the British experience! 20:26  |  Sean 02/07/07
  67.   And Olmert believes them??? 20:29  |  Polybios 02/07/07
  68.   A Better Idea 20:38  |  Danite 02/07/07
  69.   Chanah S 20:40  |  Danite 02/07/07
  70.   Ben Iabo* 20:48  |  David 02/07/07
  71.   Attention to detail 20:51  |  Alain 02/07/07
  72.   Welcome the stranger 21:00  |  Joan Stuchner 02/07/07
  73.   Maureen Ann #10- Like it would have made a difference to you 21:05  |  William 02/07/07
  74.   Protecting Jewish Character Reminiscent of Preserving Aryan Race 21:08  |  Fred Farkelsteinman 02/07/07
  75.   to Alain #62 21:16  |  Chick 02/07/07
  76.   "Olmert said..." like anyone believes what he says these days! 21:17  |  Nannette 02/07/07
  77.   To Chick 21:37  |  Sophia 02/07/07
  78.   refugees from Sudan 22:02  |  Dik 02/07/07
  79.   To ChanahS #55 22:11  |  Dik 02/07/07
  80.   BEN JABO - But Israel because if its history 22:23  |  Sam 02/07/07
  81.   I agree with Natallie (#2) 22:23  |  Sara 02/07/07
  82.   ChanahS - You have the wrong Sam 22:24  |  Sam 02/07/07
  83.   christian american-you are a fake. 22:46  |  real christian 02/07/07
  84.   You`re absolutely right Dik (64) 22:50  |  Sara 02/07/07
  85.   to #63 Sophia - your answer 23:03  |  Chick 02/07/07
  86.   #78 Sam 23:17  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  87.   Refugees ... 23:17  |  js 02/07/07
  88.   #49 Sam - you sound Jewish 23:22  |  * BEN JABO 02/07/07
  89.   Natallie Durson ? Yes it would be probably hard for you to unders 00:07  |  Gil 03/07/07
  90.   #23 David Teich. Something gentle. 00:27  |  Maureen Ann 03/07/07
  91.   #72William. 00:46  |  Maureen Ann 03/07/07
  92.   Linda Rivera # 63 -Spot on! 01:00  |  ChanahS 03/07/07
  93.   Sara is very agreeable 01:05  |  Bill 03/07/07
  94.   Danite # 69 01:06  |  ChanahS 03/07/07
  95.   Settle them in the occupied territories 01:10  |  Johann 03/07/07
  96.   Real Christian - Wrong! 01:10  |  Christian American 03/07/07
  97.   # 78 Sam 01:11  |  ChanahS 03/07/07
  98.   Sara # 79 ignorance is (not) bliss 01:16  |  ChanahS 03/07/07
  99.   Natallie Durson ?Yes it would be probably hard for you to underst 01:34  |  Gil 03/07/07
  100.   "Si j`avais ete ne Allemand" 01:59  |  German 03/07/07
  101.   @40, linda rivera, please take all of them to EU, USA 02:31  |  vladimir 03/07/07
  102.   Continent Africa 02:51  |  Goyim ben Shakar 03/07/07
  103.   Once upon a time 03:37  |  Mark Lincoln 03/07/07
  104.   #41 LINDA RIVERA , you`re a compassionate woman 05:42  |  Carl 03/07/07
  105.   Hello Chanah S 06:00  |  Danite 03/07/07
  106.   Gil #88 06:05  |  Silvienne 03/07/07
  107.   #78 Sam 06:09  |  Silvienne 03/07/07
  108.   #78 2nd TRY SAM 06:36  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  109.   wonderfully said 06:41  |  chad 03/07/07
  110.   #93 Silvienne - great post, no sense at all 06:43  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  111.   #86 Johann - better idea 06:59  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  112.   Ben Jabo, you`re just too polite (as usual...) 07:04  |  Silvienne 03/07/07
  113.   Silvienne ? Hello, my answer (#99) 07:26  |  Gil 03/07/07
  114.   Silvienne ? Hello, my answer to (# 99) 07:33  |  Gil 03/07/07
  115.   Christian American 08:15  |  Gina 03/07/07
  116.   Silvienne ? Hello, my answer 08:45  |  Gil 03/07/07
  117.   #43, ben jabo, they are more than welcomed here 11:19  |  VIPER 03/07/07
  118.   103: Mark needs analogy lessons 16:25  |  David Teich 03/07/07
  119.   #112 Silvienne 16:34  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  120.   VIPER/APARTHEID 16:39  |  * BEN JABO 03/07/07
  121.   #18 CHICK - The Palestinians are economic refugees too 17:57  |  Tess 03/07/07
  122.   Maureen Ann,bashing Israel you missed Muslim Terrorists Drs.in Au 19:26  |  Genuine Tosefta 03/07/07
  123.   90: No surprise, Maureen`s learned the wrong lesson (2nd try) 20:54  |  David Teich 03/07/07
  124.   Israel`s responsibility 01:13  |  JewishHeart 04/07/07
  125.   Hello Gil from Haifa.... 09:09  |  Silvienne 04/07/07
  126.   #117 Viper.... 09:11  |  Silvienne 04/07/07
  127.   #124 Jewish Heart.... 09:18  |  Silvienne 04/07/07
  128.   #119, Ben Jabo... 09:26  |  Silvienne 04/07/07
  129.   #128 2ND TRY Silvienne 02:24  |  * BEN JABO 05/07/07
  130.   #128, Ben Jabo.. 05:32  |  Silvienne 05/07/07
  131.   #130 Silvienne - I gave you the answer 06:38  |  * BEN JABO 05/07/07
  132.   #131 Well, Ben, there`s a disappointment... 01:13  |  Silvienne 06/07/07
  133.   125: Silvienne`s ignorance knows no bounds (2nd try) 16:42  |  David Teich 06/07/07
  134.   #133, David Teich..... 22:40  |  Silvienne 06/07/07
  135.   134: Silvienne thinks talkbacks are private 19:48  |  David Teich 08/07/07
  136.   #132 Silvienne - Just don`t forget 23:58  |  * BEN JABO 08/07/07
  137.   Ben Jabo... 05:10  |  Silvienne 09/07/07
  138.   #136, Ben Jabo, here are some of them.... 06:04  |  Silvienne 09/07/07
  139.   #135, I know, David, I`m always thinking things like that... 06:07  |  Silvienne 09/07/07
  140.   Ben Jabo, the Honor Killings 06:34  |  Silvienne 09/07/07
  141.   139: Yes, he`s good, but you`re not (3rd try) 14:32  |  David Teich 13/07/07
  142.   Economic refugees 13:34  |  Hanoch 10/03/08
 Today Online
Barak: No end to fighting with Hamas in Gaza Strip
Responses: 115
Amos Oz: Left wing can return to power in next elections
Responses: 55
Ari Shavit: Israel needs Meretz now more than ever
Responses: 3
Akiva Eldar: Israel knows the price it has to pay for security
Responses: 15
AJC leader urges Israel to give 'Durban 2' meet a chance
Responses: 20
Rosner's Domain
Whose Jerusalem Is It, anyway?
Poll: Should Abbas and Olmert continue their talks?
An Israeli and a crocodile (WTR)
The Israel Factor: What's wrong with Obama?
Rosner's Mailbox: Stop focusing on Israel's favorability polls


More Headlines
12:40 Barak: No end to fighting with Hamas in Gaza Strip
12:03 Egyptian troops kill Sudanese man trying to cross into Israel
12:12 ANALYSIS: The lull in rockets is not due to an Israel-Hamas deal
09:44 Three wounded, two seriously, in Netanya restaurant shooting
10:12 AJC leader urges Israel to give 'Durban 2' conference a chance
10:45 In show of modesty, Haredi women make up in private
11:35 State Prosecutor: Israel's civil service is plagued by corruption
13:29 Jerusalem plans 400 new homes for Jews in eastern part of capital
11:24 Supreme Court set to discuss connecting unrecognized Bedouin towns to water
05:50 Majority of judges in new conversion courts to be Haredi
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
READY FOR PURIM?
BUT - Who Will Guard The Hamentasch?
Free the Palestinians from:
Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy
Long-term Israel programs
MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel
Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates
7589 rockets fired so far
HELP US TO HELP THEM
FREE JEWISH HISTORY COURSE
Berel Wein's best selling lectures. 5000 Years in Five hours /CD/MP3
Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach
Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved