Refugees in Israel

Refugees from Africa have entered Israel in the past few years, posing questions for Israelis.

Larry Derfner of U.S. News and World Report writes:

For the ragged people streaming out of Egypt—African refugees fleeing genocide, war, and persecution—Israel appears to be the Promised Land indeed. But in the eyes of Israel’s government, mindful of the Jewish experience with persecution and genocide, these new arrivals pose a delicate problem and a potentially serious peril.

Refugees crossing the porous border into Israel started their journeys in Sudan, Eritrea, and other African countries. Since 2005, when they began trickling into Israel—the Middle East’s most liberal and prosperous country—their numbers have grown to about 6,000. Between dozens and hundreds more arrive each week—more than 1,000 so far this year, many from Eritrea. Most have tragic stories like that of a former English teacher who fled Eritrea after his father was killed by government agents. “When I was in Sudan, I heard people were going to Israel,” he says. “I didn’t have the money to go anywhere else, so I wanted to come, too.” Click here for the rest of the story.

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