Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 31, 2007 Cheshvan 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:57 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Sudanese refugee children in Be'er Sheva in August. (Archives) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 13:35 31/10/2007 Egypt detains 8 Eritreans, 2 Darfur refugees trying to enter Israel By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent , and The Associated Press tags: Sudanese refugees  Egyptian authorities detained eight Eritreans and two Sudanese early Wednesday in two separate incidents as they tried to make their way to Israel, a security official said. The Eritreans were caught trying to take a boat across the Suez Canal to the Sinai Peninsula, to reach the border with Israel in northern Sinai, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media. An Egyptian human trafficker was arrested along with the eight Eritreans, the official said. Advertisement In a separate incident, two young Sudanese refugees from the war-torn western Darfur region were arrested early Wednesday as they tried to sneak into Israel south of the official Rafah border crossing point, according to the official. The Sudanese said they were seeking political asylum in Israel. Israel estimates that 2,800 people have entered the country illegally through its border with Egypt in recent years searching for jobs. Most have come from Africa. Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees is investigating whether Egypt broke its promise not to deport Sudanese refugees back to their country of origin after they had illegally crossed into Israel, UNHCR's Cairo spokeswoman told Haaretz. The investigation, which also involves Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry, revolves around 48 Sudanese refugees whom Israel deported to Egypt two months ago. The spokeswoman, Abir Atfah, said her organization asked the Egyptian authorities to allow the UNHCR to meet the refugees, who were deported back to Egypt on August 19, but this effort failed. Atfah believes the 48 refugees were arrested as soon as they entered Egypt. "Some of the refugees deserve recognition as asylum seekers. We are very troubled by the possibility that they were deported back to Sudan," Atfah said. She added that 23 of the refugees had asked to be recognized as asylum seekers. If the refugees were deported, the affair could have ramifications regarding Israel's relationship with Egypt. After Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in August, he said Mubarak agreed to receive the refugees that cross over to Israel and not deport them to Sudan. Some of the refugees flee to Egypt and from there to Israel to escape massacres by government-funded Sudanese militias in the Western region of Darfur. Returning asylum seekers to their countries of origin is against international law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem is trying through the embassy in Cairo to gain information about the group of refugees, a ministry official told Haaretz. Ministry officials said they have so far been unsuccessful. One Sudanese refugee who is in Israel said a relative of his who had been deported to Egypt told him over the phone she was detained in Egypt for three weeks until she was flown to Sudan. She was questioned by the Sudanese authorities and then released, he said. "This case proves that Olmert and Mubarak's casual handshake does not give proper protection to the refugees," said a spokesperson for Hotline for Migrant Workers, a non-profit organization. "Unless Israel reaches a real agreement with Egypt, deporting them there is just like sending them back to Sudan," the spokesperson said. Related aricles: Olmert: Egypt vowed not to expel Sudan refugees deported from Israel Israel considering deportation of Sudanese refugees to Kenya From Darfur to a kibbutz oasis Bookmark to del.icio.us China, Israel diverge With Livni in Beijing, China rejects Israel's call for tougher sanctions against Iran. Amending aliyah Interior Minister Sheetrit says Jews should not be granted automatic Israeli citizenship.   1.   So the UNSC, UNCHRC, HRW, do not automatically condemn Egypt? 04:19  |  Genuine Tosefta 31/10/07   2.   egypt: i didn`t say "simon says".... 05:42  |  x 31/10/07   3.   they`re still investigating 07:00  |  j.l. 31/10/07   4.   Nice sentiment but poor timing 07:09  |  Natallie Durson 31/10/07   5.   So what`s the point? Should I be concern? 07:26  |  Alex 31/10/07   6.   to Alex #5 08:34  |  Michael 31/10/07   7.   EGYPT DOESNT JUST DEPORT THE SUDANESE 09:24  |  WATCHER 31/10/07   8.   Durson, how much???, how many??? 10:33  |  akiva (zionist) 31/10/07   9.   Arabs States Enslave Africans And Their Friends Blame Israel 21:32  |  Efox 31/10/07

Today Online U.S. renews pressure on Israel to remove West Bank outposts Responses: 201 Israel: Hezbollah has tripled its land-to-sea missile arsenal Responses: 124 Arab MKs: Effort to thwart our trips to enemy states is 'racist' Responses: 115 Shmuel Rosner: Annapolis is the summit of all fears Responses: 36 Benvenisti: What's more foolish, current Jerusalem borders or redrawing them? Responses: 30 Rosner's Domain * WTR: Voters want Clinton to attack Iran * Guest: Churchill sometimes manipulated Jewish issues * Annapolis - The summit of all fears * Is Tikkun Olam a substitute for Israel? More Headlines 21:44 Court orders Jewish town to set aside land for Arabs 20:53 Arab MKs: Bid to bar trips to enemy states is 'racist' 18:57 IDF troops kill Islamic Jihad militant in central Gaza gunbattle 19:18 Israeli, Palestinian police forces hold first ever joint workshop 19:30 Jewish, Anglican leaders urge world to protect all holy sites 17:27 German FM to present Israel, PA with EU plan for Mideast peace 20:47 Gag order lifted on kidnap of Israeli family in Russia months ago 15:34 Israel to UN: Hezbollah has tripled its land-to-sea missile arsenal 18:28 Forced prostitution in WWII camps highlighted in Hamburg exhibit Previous Editions Select Day 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct 25 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct

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