VIEWPOINT YONATAN JAKUBOWICZ

Its the money, stupid

Israel has actually taken in more illegal African migrants in absolute numbers than any single EU country and the vast majority are here for economic reasons
THERE ARE some basic facts you need to know when considering Sudan is considered an enemy country, so that even if it wanted what to do about the mass illegal infiltration into Israel from Af- to, Israel does not have the technical capacity to repatriate. On the other hand, Israel has full diplomatic ties with Eritrea, rica. First and foremost, the vast majority of the infiltrators from Eritrea and Sudan do not meet a single one of the 1951 UN Refugee but the Eritreans refuse to guarantee the safety of migrants sent home against their will. And without such a guarantee, under inConventions criteria for refugee status. ternational law EritreIn the interviews an nationals cannot be conducted with forcibly repatriated. them on arrival in The main reason for the country, includthis Catch-22 situation ing those by the UN is that one-third of High Commission Eritreas GDP comes on Refugees, most from funds sent home stated explicitly that by migrant workers. the main reason What should be for their coming to done? Israel was to find According to Interior work not surprisMinistry data, after the ing since the miniamendment to the Premum wage in Israel vention of Infiltration is over 30 times the Law allowing the average wage in detention of migrants Eritrea. Indeed, acresisting deportation cording to UN data, orders for up to three about 85 percent of years was enacted the infiltrators are An illegal Eritrean migrant is detained at Israels border with Egypt in January 2012, more young men on their than 2000 migrants reown, a clear indication that the vast majority are primarily work seekers, and not war turned home of their own volition. Regrettably, in September this year the Supreme Court abrogated the amendment as unconstiturefugees fleeing for their lives with their families. Secondly, on their way to Israel, all the infiltrators passed through tional, ignoring the positive effect it was having on stopping the inat least one other country with an active branch of the UN High flux of new migrants and repatriating those already in the country. Given the new situation, the government should set up open lodgCommission on Refugees. Paragraph 31 of the UN Convention clearly stipulates that refugee rights should only be conferred on ing centers for migrants, in which they would be free to come and people arriving directly from the country from which they were go as they please. But under no circumstances should they be allowed to work and they, or anyone who employs them, should be forced to flee. In the European Union, the average approval of asylum requests subject to heavy fines if they do. Past experience shows that withfrom Eritrea and Sudan is only about 30 percent. In some countries out significant earning potential, most migrants would choose to the figure is significantly higher, whereas in others it is close to return to their home countries. Moreover, although the infiltrators zero. Moreover, over the past few years, Israel has actually taken cannot be forcibly repatriated, most have no objection to returning in more illegal migrants in absolute numbers than any single EU to their home countries through third countries. For those who nevertheless prefer to remain here, Israel should country. In relation to population size, the figures are even more dramatic. For example, in 2011 Israel received 10 times as many set a humanitarian quota, proportionate to its absorptive capabilimigrants as France, 20 times more than Italy and 100 times more ties. For those outside the quota, Israel should seek to sign agreements with third countries that would take them in in return for than Spain. In Israels case, there has been a huge influx of migrants it would financial or other benefits. And finally, Israel should not shy away from asking the internabe hard-pressed to absorb permanently, and, more importantly, it is tional community for help.  under no legal or moral obligation to do so. Nevertheless, despite the fact that these people do not qualify as refugees, Israel has refrained from sending them back to their Yonatan Jakubowicz is director of PR and Communications at the countries of origin. The north Sudanese case is unique, in that Tel Aviv-based Israel Immigration Policy Center
YANNIS BAHRAKIS / REUTERS

THE JERUSALEM REPORT NOVEMBER 18, 2013

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