Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 11, 2008 Sivan 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:54 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 14:31 10/06/2008 Interior Min. sets up unit to grant refugee status By Shahar Ilan Tags: interior ministry, israel  The Interior Ministry has set up a unit to question and investigate refugees from Africa - the government's first big step to deal with the wave of migrants entering from the southern border. The move comes after the state predicted that refugees will continue to arrive in the next few years and nothing can be done to stop them. The State Prosecution recently told the High Court of Justice that the ministry's Population Administration has hired 20 employees who speak languages common in Africa, such as Arabic and Amharic, and is hiring more. Advertisement The unit is a step in the Population Administration's process of taking over the handling of refugees from the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR. In developed countries the government usually handles refugees, supervised by the UNHCR, while in the developing world the UNHCR does so. In Israel, the process of requesting asylum and recognizing refugees has been carried out by the UNHCR, among other reasons because at first only very few refugees entered the country. Since 2007, 10,000 refugees have arrived in Israel through the southern border, overwhelming the UNHCR with asylum requests. As a first step, the Interior Ministry has taken over the refugees' identification and registration process. "We as a state are taking responsibility and beginning to deal with the situation," an official said. Attorney Yonatan Berman of the Hotline for Migrant Workers commended the government for taking responsibility for the refugees, but is worried about the Interior Ministry's sometimes harsh treatment of foreigners. A recent petition debated in Jerusalem's District Court demonstrates the ministry's attitude toward refugees. The petitioner was a member of an anti-government organization in Ethiopia, who fled that country after two members of her family had been murdered. The UNHCR rejected her request for asylum and the Interior Ministry refused her request to reveal the UNHCR's reasons for denying her request. The ministry not only prevented her from understanding how the decision that determined her fate was made, it denied her the possibility of taking legal measures to stay in Israel. The court's president, Moussia Arad, instructed the ministry in a precedent-setting ruling to reveal the arguments. "The petitioner has a real interest in finding what the UNHCR's position is. Without knowing what the reasons for the UNHCR's recommendation were, the petitioner would not be able to examine them and if necessary, respond to them and prevent mistakes," Arad said. UNHCR officials said the new unit has been cooperating with them. Even refugees caught passing themselves off as Sudanese, in an attempt to obtain refugee status, were not arrested but permitted to apply for asylum on the basis of their real identity and circumstances, they said. Had the unit started arresting people, an official said, nobody would have come to register at its offices. At a later stage the unit will also interrogate and investigate the migrants to determine who is eligible for refugee status. Related articles: Two migrant workers wounded in Qassam strike on Negev African migrants arrested while attempting to cross into Israel PM: Israel to send back refugees who infiltrate from Sinai Bookmark to del.icio.us   Marketing ploy Israeli satellite TV has a new star - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Through her lens Madonna's next project: documentary about the Israeli-Arab conflict.   1.   If this was done to Jews... 09:36  |  Ulf 10/06/08   2.   To Ulf, # 1 11:00  |  Laylah 10/06/08   3.   G-d help them. The Interior ministry is not 12:27  |  Jo 10/06/08   4.   build a fence already 12:52  |  Jon 10/06/08   5.   Israel have you gone mad? 15:38  |  Helen 10/06/08   6.   To#2: Holocaust denier? 17:44  |  Ulf 10/06/08   7.   Missing the point 20:34  |  Asher 10/06/08   8.   #5 Bad populational balance... 20:48  |  Ulf 10/06/08   9.   Don`t worry Asher, no one wants to cut 09:42  |  the pope 11/06/08

Read & React Palestinians: IDF kills girl, Hamas gunman in Gaza Strip Responses: 14 Editorial: No good reason for broad IDF Gaza operation Responses: 6 Haniyeh aide: Hamas expects gesture in exchange for Shalit letter Responses: 34 IDF reservists complain their service consists of babysitting young settlers Responses: 6 Alexander Yakobson: Religious rites not needed to join the Jewish people Responses: 4 Rosner's Domain Lieberman for VP? Only 18% want it (WTR) On a par with the policies of President Bush Threatening Iran is wrong (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? More Headlines 09:49 Palestinians: IDF kills girl, Hamas gunman in Gaza 07:33 Pressure mounting on Olmert to set date for Kadima primaries 09:13 Haniyeh aide: In exchange for Shalit letter, we expect gesture 07:32 Bill banning would-be MKs who visit enemy countries passes first reading 09:28 Immigration raid on Iowa kosher meat plant likely to raise prices 06:27 Israel keeps mum ahead of cease-fire meeting with Hamas 09:23 Israeli company develops radar system that sees through walls 08:03 U.S. Army training Egyptians to find and destroy smuggling tunnels 05:56 Teenager who murdered for 'thrill' wants life sentence commuted 05:36 Jordanian embassy in Tel Aviv launches Web site in Hebrew 08:22 Dead Sea is drying up alarmingly, receded 10 centimeters in May Previous Editions Select Day 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may

Special Offers Advertisement Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy 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 |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

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