Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 08, 2008 Shvat 1, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:29 (EST+7) 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 Magazine

Eritrean refugees on a Negev moshav in October. (Alex Levac) Last update - 09:27 08/01/2008 Interior Ministry grants work permits to one hundred Eritrean refugees By Nurit Wurgaft, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Refugees, Yaakov Ganot  One hundred refugees from Eritrea received work permits from the Interior Ministry Monday. They are the first of almost 1,000 refugees who will be given such permits in the coming days. The permits are being awarded following a special decision last week by Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and the head of the Population Administration, Yaakov Ganot. "The decision stems from humanitarian considerations in light of the United Nations' request that the Eritreans not be returned to their country, due to severe infractions of human rights there," said Yossi Edelstein, director of the Population Administration's department of aliens. Advertisement The Interior Ministry views the six-month work permit as an interim solution. "The first to receive the permits were refugees living in shelters in south Tel Aviv, to allow them to move out and make room for those now housed in Ketziot Prison," Edelstein said. The dictatorial regime in Eritrea, located in east Africa, sees those who leave the country as defectors. If they return, they face imprisonment, torture or even death. The families of those who flee are also at risk. A woman now residing in Ketziot Prison said two weeks ago that after her husband fled, the Eritrean police demanded that she give him up and threatened that if she did not, they would take her instead. She ran away that night, leaving her two-year-old daughter in her mother's care. "I don't know if my husband is alive or dead and my mother does not know whether I am alive. I worry about my daughter," she said. Her fears are not groundless. Another refugee, a teacher who tried to halt the forced draft in the school where he taught, said that after he fled, his wife was arrested with their baby and jailed for two weeks. Some of the refugees in Ketziot, located in the northern Negev, were released to work on local moshavim, where they were exploited and lived under terrible conditions. However, they did not dare run away. "We are prepared to do anything so as not to be deported," said an Eritrean man who worked on a Negev moshav. The man said he fled Eritrea after spending six months undergoing torture, including confinement in a small metal box, in a military prison for having expressed a personal opinion during a political rally in his army unit. "When they took me out of the box they made me run," he said. "I ran until I fainted and they put me back in the box." He added that his hands and feet were frequently tied behind him, and he was forced to stand on his hands until he collapsed, after which he was beaten. After hearing about Sheetrit's decision Monday, he said: "I am no longer afraid. Now I feel protected." Wednesday, he and his friends will go to the Population Administration in Be'er Sheva to receive their permits. And what will happen after the six months are up? "I don't know. At least now we can decide for ourselves what to do," he said. Related articles: Youth movement offers refugee teens more than just survival Abandoned in the desert Refugees and Jerusalem: A question of money Bookmark to del.icio.us   Finkelstein in Lebanon A vocal U.S. critic of Israel met Monday with a senior Hezbollah official. Holocaustland 2007 sees record number of visitors at Auschwitz extermination camp.   1.   eritrean refugees 08:13  |  kowalski 08/01/08

Today Online Olmert to assure Bush he will dismantle illegal outposts Responses: 126 Shmuel Rosner: Ron Paul and an Israel without U.S. aid Responses: 162 Akiva Eldar: Settlements are an obstacle to Zionism Responses: 124 Nadav Shragai: Mr. President, would you divide New York? Responses: 95 U.S. comes within seconds of opening fire on Iranian boats Responses: 123 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guest: Futurizing Judaism, redefining Zionism Ron Paul: Israel can get by without U.S. aid Biden & Dodd: Expertise in foreign policy can only take you so far Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? The Judaism of Alicia Silverstone (WTR) More Headlines 09:20 Rocket hits house near border with Lebanon 09:15 Israel botched chance to free abducted soldiers at start of war 08:12 Olmert and Abbas to seal deal on teams to tackle core issues 08:35 Israeli Arab leaders slam boycott of visiting Jewish donors 04:49 Construction to start in area Palestinians want for corridor 09:26 Security arrangements for Bush visit to cost Israel $25,000 an hour 06:21 Police gear up to stop rabbis from praying on Temple Mount 09:27 Interior Ministry grants work permits to one hundred Eritrean refugees 09:28 Reservists, bereaved parents urge Barak to leave government Previous Editions Select Day 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec

Special Offers Advertisement FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! AMERICANS ONE MONTH LEFT US citizen in Israel beat online Democrats-Abroad Presidential Primary deadline.

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved