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African refugees in Tel Aviv (Nir Kafri) Last update - 19:07 25/02/2008 Immigration Police detains some 200 African refugees in Tel Aviv By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: migrant workers, refugees  The Immigration Police raided the area surrounding Tel Aviv's central bus station Monday morning and detained more than 200 African asylum seekers. The raid followed a statement Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had made on Sunday, urging the police to deport migrants who had illegally entered Israel from Egypt, but do not enjoy the protection of the UN. Among the detainees were citizens of Eritrea, the Ivory Coast, and Sudan. They were taken to the Holon police station for interrogation and their status to be determined. Those who are recognized as refugees will be immediately released, and the others will be taken to Ketziot prison, where illegal dwellers are incarcerated before deportation. Advertisement Since the refugees' lives may be at risk in their home countries, Israel considers deporting them to a third country that will agree to host them. An Immigration Police spokesperson said that detainees who claim they were arrested en route to submit an application at the office of the UN High Commission for Refugees will not be released. UNHCR has accumulated more than 6,500 asylum applications, more than 2,000 of which were made by Eritrean citizens. The Interior Ministry said that Eritrean citizens who entered Israel no later than 25 December last year will not be deported. Olmert instructed his chief of staff, Ra'anan Dinur, to prepare a daily report on the procedures involving refugees, including detention, hearings and deportation. A peer review is due to take place in three weeks' time. The chairman of the special Knesset committee on Foreign Affairs, Meretz MK Ran Cohen, said that "this is an unnecessary move, which serves no purpose but fear-mongering. Instead of harassing the refugees, we should treat them humanely and help them find a job." Other human rights organizations, including Physicians for Human Rights and the Hotline for Migrant Workers, called on the authorities to release the detainees without delay. Related articles: Migrant workers celebrate the New Year far from home High Court slams state for terms of permits for migrant workers Call to Order / How much does the state earn from trafficking in women? Bookmark to del.icio.us   Free interpretation Yesha rabbinical council ruled it is forbidden for Jews to employ Arabs. Little Africa Tel Aviv is setting up a tent city to improve the living conditions of African refugees.   1.   They should apply for legal refugee status outside the country 18:59  |  Gili 25/02/08   2.   IL is allowing nationals of hostile states to hang around TA Bus 21:02  |  Alan 25/02/08   3.   Jewish Advice for Olmert 21:31  |  Frank from NY 25/02/08   4.   easy to tell the illegal african immigrants...black skin 21:55  |  Assad-u-LLAH 25/02/08   5.   Great !! 23:28  |  Kobi former Swede 25/02/08   6.   Now deport 500,000 illegal palestinians-non citizens of Israel 00:25  |  Sal 26/02/08   7.   america has room 00:45  |  bri 26/02/08   8.   african migrants 20:50  |  rj 20/03/08

Today Online Yesha rabbi: Jewish law forbids renting houses to Arabs Responses: 193 Palestinian Americans warned of security profiling at B-G Airport Responses: 137 Egypt agrees to take over as Gaza power supplier Responses: 78 Abe Foxman: Anti-Semitism is not just a Jewish problem Responses: 28 Rosner's Domain No need for American pressure on Israel Obama and the psychological complexities of American Jewry (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? McCain rep: Christian right 'serious problem' Were Shakespeare's Plays Written By A Jewish Woman? (WTR) More Headlines 21:07 Peres: Syrian peace overtures arouse distrust 21:13 Bin Laden tape: Iron and fire needed to liberate Palestine 18:59 Fatah delegates to leave Yemen without Hamas deal 15:40 Rocket damages Negev house; Medics: IDF kills Gaza civilian 21:27 Israeli ex-security guard solves 38-year-old math problem 21:27 Jewish group seeks to purge YouTube of anti-Semitic videos 19:40 Ariel teen seriously wounded by explosion in his house 18:20 Health Ministry to vaccinate health workers against measles 17:00 Some 2,400 African refugees have entered Israel this year 18:38 Abbas' sons sue Channel 1 for reporting they own cellphone company 16:04 Russia, Israel set to sign agreement eliminating visa requirement Previous Editions Select Day 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar

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