ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the immediate deportation of Eritreans involved in a violent altercation in Tel Aviv and the deportation of all African asylum applicants from the country.
The protests, which left scores injured, involved combat using building materials, scrap metal, rocks, and police cars, with Israeli police using live rounds, stun grenades, and tear gas.
African immigration in Israel is a contentious issue, with advocates arguing that judges need restraint due to their impeded efforts to expel individuals.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for harsh measures against rioters, including immediate deportation, and has requested that ministers propose plans for the removal of illegal infiltrators.
He also noted that the Supreme Court invalidated some steps to force people to leave and asked for plans for the removal of all illegal infiltrators. 25,000 African asylum seekers, mainly from Sudan and Eritrea, are currently in Israel, claiming to have fled conflict or repression.
Israel claims it has no legal responsibility to hold these asylum seekers and has attempted to force them out through various methods, including incarceration, income withholding, and monetary rewards. Critics argue that Israel cannot force people to return to a place where their lives or freedom may be in danger.
Netanyahu stated that deporting Eritrean government supporters would not be a problem. Supporters of asylum seekers argue that Israel should accept migrants, as low-income southern Tel Aviv communities have seen an increase in crime.
Supporters of Eritrea’s current administration celebrated the 30th anniversary of the country’s coup near Tel Aviv. Critics argue that returning to Eritrea, with its poor record for human rights protection, would be fatal.
Netanyahu’s proposal for a judicial makeover is opposed by critics as a power grab, aiming to limit judicial control over legislative and executive actions. Supporters argue it aims to restore elected officials’ power and control a liberally biased legal system.
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