Israel: Sudanese Refugees - like Darfur, as Auschwitz
Blogged by: Global Voices
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Over the past several months, a growing number of Sudanese refugees have been crossing into Israeli territory through the Egyptian desert. The Israeli government has
reacted by placing many in detention camps, and is currently considering their fate. Israeli bloggers are questioning their government’s actions, comparing the situation to that of the
mid-1930’s, when the world did not accept Jewish refugees fleeing from the Nazi regime. Many claim that a country like Israel, which was created on the virtue - ‘remember and never
forget‘, is already forgetting the apathy its’ founding fathers faced in the not so distant past. Refugees have been fleeing from the horrors of the genocide and ethnic
cleansing taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. A growing number make their way into Israel in hope that the democratic state will be more forgiving than its Egyptian neighbor, where refugees
are shot upon approaching the border. However, they cross the border to find that the same country which came to life in the shadow of its’ own people’s genocide, is restricting refugees
from entering, and keeping those who succeeded far from sight in detention camps. IDF forces are planning not to allow any more refugees from crossing the border into Israel, claiming that their
constant flow may flood the country. This decision conflicts directly with the values and beliefs from which this young country eloped, and places Israel in the same coalition as all the countries who
did not accept Jewish refugees who fled antisematic Europe in the 1930s. Many bloggers have been asking the government to reflect back at its not so distant past, and realize that its actions
are similar to what was presented to their Jewish ancestors. In her blog post on, kipa.co.il , Mor Goldkleng writes:מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל ×"×™× ×ž×"×™× ×ª ×"×™×"ו×"×™×. ×"×™× ×¦×¨×™×›×" ל×"ר×ות ×ת ×"×¤× ×™× ×"×™×"ו×"יות של×"… ×"×•×•×§× ×× ×-× ×•, ×¦×¨×™×›×™× ×œ×"ר×ות, לתת ×"ו×'מ×, לק×'ל ולשל×' ×ת ×"×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×'×ª×•×›× ×•. ×'ו×ו ×œ× × ×"×™×" ×§×¤×™×˜×œ×™×¡×˜×™× ×•× ×-שו×' רק ×'×ž×•× ×-×™× ×©×œ רוו×- ו×"פס×". ×'ו×ו × ×-שו×' ×× ×•×©×™×•×ª.×œ×¤× ×™ ×›×-ו×"ש ×"יית×" ×"פ×'× ×" מול ×"קירי×". ×'×"פ×'× ×" ×"×"ליקו 300 × ×¨×•×ª ×›×"×–×"×"ות ×¢× 300 ×"×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©×"×'יעו ל×רץ ו××-×™×"× ×"קור×'× ×•×ª. ×'ו×ו ×× ×-× ×• × ×"ליק ×ת ×"× ×¨ ×"×'×"ול ×"×–×", ×"זו×"ר של ×"×-מל×" ו×"ר×-מי×.לשו×ת ×"×¢× ×©×œ×™ ×"×¢×•×œ× ×©×ª×§. לס×'×ª× ×©×œ×™ ×"יו ××"ישי×. ×× ×™ ×œ× ×ž×•×›× ×" ל×"יות ××"יש×" ל××-רי×. “×œ× ×ª×¢×ž×•×" על ×"× ×¨×¢×š”. ×–×"ו ציווי מוסרי ×-שו×' ×'יותר ×©×ª×•×¨×ª× ×• ×"ורת×" ×œ× ×•.
Israel is the State of the Jewish people. It should show its Jewish face… It is especially critical for us to set an example, accept and integrate the refugees
within us. Let us not be capitalistic and only think in terms of monetary gain and loss. Let us think of humanity. A month ago there was a rally in front of the Kirya in Tel Aviv. In the rally, 300
candles were lit to empathize with the 300 Sudanese refugees in Israel. Let us light this greater candle, that of compassion and mercy. During the genocide of my people the world was silent. My
grandmother received apathy. I am not willing to be apathetic to others. “Thou shall not stand idly by the blood of your fellow” - (Leviticus 19:16) That is an extremely important ethical
duty, passed to us through the bible (and also a state law in Israel).
The following excerpt was taken from a letter addressed to Knesset leaders, published in the blacklabor blog:למ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל יש מש××'×™× ×•×™×›×•×œ×ª לתת מקלט מ×"×™× ×™ ו×"ומ×× ×™ לפליטי×. יותר מז×" - למ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל יש מ×-וי×'ות ×"יסטורית ומוסרית לפתו×- ×ת שערי×" ×'×¤× ×™ כל פליט ×•× ×¨×"×£, ×œ×œ× ×"×'×"ל ×"ת, מין ו×'×–×¢.×ž× ×"×™×'×™ ישר×ל מצ×"×™×¨×™× ×'כל ×"×–×"×ž× ×•×ª על ×™×™×-ו×"× ×• כמ×"×™× ×ª ×"×™×"ו×"×™×. זו ×"×"×–×"×ž× ×•×ª ×©×œ×›× ×œ×"פוך ×ž×™×œ×™× ×œ×ž×¢×©×". עת×" ×¢×œ×™× ×• ללמו×" מי×"ו×"×™ ×ר×"â€×' ×"מו×'×™×œ×™× ×'××¨×¦× ×ת ×"מ××'ק ל×"תער×'ות ×'×™× ×œ×ומית ×'× ×¢×©×" ×'סו×"×ן, ×•×ž×©×ª×ª×¤×™× ×'×ופן פעיל (×•×œ× ×¨×§ ×'תרומת ×›×¡×¤×™× ×œ×"ר×'עת ×"מצפון) ×'×ª×•×›× ×™×•×ª ×"סיוע.
The State of Israel is capable of giving shelter and providing political-humanitarian
asylum to those refugees who have already crossed into its territory. Above all, Israel has a historical and moral commitment to open its gates towards any refugee, regardless of religious, sexual or
racial differences. Our leaders frequently mention the unique character of this country of the Jews. This is your opportunity to turn words into actions. We need to learn from Jewish organizations in
the United States, who are actively leading the struggle for international action in Sudan.
dovblog describes a Knesset discussion by Dov Hanin which took place at the end of May, on this topic:×× ×-× ×• מ×"×'×¨×™× ×¢×œ ×'ין 450 ל-500 ×זר×-×™× ×¡×•×"× ×™× ×©× ×ž×¦××™× ×'ישר×ל ×"×™×•× ×•×ž×'×§×©×™× ×ž×§×œ×˜ ×'×". ××'ל לפי סעיף 6 של × ×•×"ל ×"ס×"רת ×"טיפול ×'מ×'קשי מקלט, ××•×ª× ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×ž× ×•×¢×™× ×ž×œ×§×'ל ×שרות ש×"×™×™×" ×ו ל×"יקלט ×'ישר×ל, מכיוון ש×'רמ×" ×"פורמלית ×"× × ×ª×™× ×™× ×©×œ מ×"×™× ×ª ×וי×'.×"מצ×' ×"×–×" עומ×" ×'סתיר×" מו×-לטת ל××ž× ×" ×'×"×'ר מעמ×"× ×©×œ ×"×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×ž×©× ×ª 1951, ×ות×" ××ž× ×" ש×'×" ×"×וâ€× ×"× ×™×- ×ת ××'× ×™ ×"×'סיס למערכת שלמ×" של ×ž× ×'× ×•× ×™× ×'ין-ל××•×ž×™×™× ×©× ×•×¢×"ו ל×"×'ן על ×"פליטי×. מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל × ×˜×œ×" ×-לק מ×"ותי ×'× ×™×¡×•×- ×"××ž× ×" ×"×–×ת ו×'×-יזוק ×"×"×'× ×•×ª ×"× ×ª×•× ×•×ª לפליטי×, וז×", כמו×'ן, מו×'ן ×œ×›×•×œ× ×• × ×•×›×- ×"עו×'×"×" ש×"××ž× ×" ×ושר×" כמ×" ×©× ×™× ××-רי מל×-מת ×"×¢×•×œ× ×"×©× ×™×™×", ש×'×" ×'× ×™ ×¢×ž× ×•, ×"×™×"ו×"×™×, ×"יו פליטי×, ור×'×™× ×ž×"× ×¢×¨×' מל×-מת ×"×¢×•×œ× ×"×©× ×™×™×" ×"ת×"פקו על ×"לתות ס×'ורות של מ×"×™× ×•×ª ×©×œ× ×"יו ×ž×•×›× ×•×ª לקלוט ×ות×.××'×', מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל ×'× ×שרר×" ×ת ×"××ž× ×" ×"×–×ת ×'×©× ×ª 1954, ולכן ×"×"ת×-×™×™×'ויות של ×"ממשל×" ×'ת×-×•× ×"×–×" ×"ן, ל×"×¢×ª× ×•, ×'× ×"ת×-×™×™×'ויות משפטיות, ×•×œ× ×¨×§ ×"ת×-×™×™×'ויות מוסריות.×'כל ×–×ת, מ×" קור×" ×'שט×-? ×-לק ×'×"ול מ×"×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©× ×ž×¦××™× ×'ישר×ל, × ×ž×¦××™× ×'מעצר. ×× ×-× ×• מ×"×'×¨×™× ×¢×œ ×›-150 ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©× ×ž×¦××™× ×'מעצר ×'×'תי-×›×œ× ×©×•× ×™×. מתוך 450 ×"פליטי×, ××'×', 80 ×"× ×™×œ×"×™× ×•×›-110 ×"ן × ×©×™×. ×"×"רישות ×©×œ× ×• מ×"ממשל×" ×'ת×-×•× ×"×–×" ×"ן שממשלת ישר×ל, ר×שית, ת×'×"וק ×'×"יק×" ×¢× ×™×™× ×™×ª כל ×'קש×" של מ×'קש מקלט ות×-ליט ×"×-לט×" ×¢× ×™×™× ×™×ª על סמך פרטי ×"×'קש×" ×'×"×'ר ×–×›×ותו של ×"××"× ×œ×"×'× ×" כפליט. ×× ×-× ×• ×"×•×¨×©×™× ×ž×"ממשל×" לש×-רר ממעצר ×ת כל ×"×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×ž×"רפור ×©× ×ž×¦××™× ×'ישר×ל. ×œ× ×"×'×™×•× ×™, ×œ× ×¡×'יר, ×œ× ×¦×•×"ק ×•×œ× ×ž×•×¡×¨×™ ל×"×-זיק ×'מעצר ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©×'ר×-ו מרצ×- ×¢× ×•×ž×˜×'×- כמו ×©×ž×ª× ×"ל ×'×"רפור.
There are currently between 450 to 500 Sudanese citizens who are seeking asylum in Israel. According to article 6 of the asylum seekers amendment, these refugees are prevented
from receiving an approval to stay in Israel because they belong to an enemy country. This situation contradicts the basic agreement on refugee status from 1951, the same agreement which served as the
basis the UN worldwide amendment to protect refugee status worldwide. The State of Israel took an essential role in the creation of this agreement in 1954, therefore I think the obligation of our
government is not only a moral one, but also legal. What is happening in reality? Out of the 450 refugees in Israel, around 150 have been placed in detention. 80 of them are children and 110
are women. We request that the Israeli government be accurate in examining every request of political asylum, and consider accepting them according to their entitlement for protection as refugees. We
ask the government to release all those held in detention. It is not reasonable, nor ethical to hold these refugees, who escaped from the horrors or Darfur.
From a Yellow Plebean’s Hebrew blog:
×'×©× ×ª 1937 ×"×'×™×¢×" ס×'×ª× ×©×œ×™ ל×ר×"”×'. ×"×™× ×"יית×" יל×"×" ×§×˜× ×", ו×"××-×¨×•× ×" מ×"משפ×-×" של×" ש×"צלי×-×" לצ×ת מ×ירופ×". ××-ות×" ×"×'×"ול×", ל×" ×"יו שיש×" יל×"×™×, ×œ× ×"שי×'×" וויז×" ×•× ×©×ר×" ×'צ'כוסלו×'קי×". ×›×•×œ× × ×¡×¤×• ×'שו××". ××ª× ×ž×'×™× ×™×, ×"משפ×-×" שלי ×"×•×•×§× ×"×'×™× ×" מ×" קור×" ×•× ×™×¡×ª×" ל×'רו×-, ××'ל ×"קצ×' של ×"וויזות ×"×™×" ×יטי מ×"×™. ×"×¢×•×œ× ×"×™×" × ×•×¨× ×˜×¨×•×" ×'×'עיות ××-רות, ×•×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©×™×¦×™×¤×• מ×"×™× ×•×ª שיש ל×"ן ×'עיות משל×"× ×•×¢× ×™×™× ×ž×©×œ×"× × ×¨×ו כמו מטר×" מיותר. ועו×" ש×-ורי×. ××", סלי×-×", ×™×"ו×"×™×. ××– ×'ירשו ××•×ª× ×'×-זר×", ×•×ž× ×¢×• מ×"× ×œ×"×›× ×¡ למ×"×™× ×•×ª ××-רות, ולמעט כמ×" צ×"יקי×, ×"×¢×•×œ× ×¤×©×•×˜ ×"תעל×.
כן, ×× ×™ מ×"×'ר עכשיו על שו××" של ××-רי×. על ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×ž×"×רפור, ש×'ור×-×™× ×ž×"מ×"×™× ×" של×"×, ×-×•×¦×™× ×ת מ×"×'ריות ×ž×¦×¨×™× ×•×ž× ×¡×™× ×œ×"×'×™×¢ למ×"×™× ×" שמ×-וי×'ת ×œ×¡×˜× ×"×¨×˜×™× ×'×™× ×œ×ומיי×. מ×"×™× ×" ש×סור ל×" ל×'רש ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©×'ור×-×™× ×ž×¨×¦×- ×¢×.
In 1937 my grandmother arrived to the United States. She was a little girl, the last of her family who managed to escape Europe. Her bigger sister, who had six children, did not receive a visa, and
stayed in Czechoslovakia. All those who stayed were wiped out during the holocaust. You understand, my family realized what is happening and tried to escape. But the visa process was too slow. The
world was busy with other problems, and refugees that would flood countries who had enough problems of their own, seemed like an unnecessary annoyance. As they were not allowed to enter any other
country, they were sent back. And apart for some saints, the world simply ignored. Now I am talking about other people’s holocaust. Refugees from Darfur who flee from their land, cross the
Egyptian desert and try to reach a country committed to international standards. A country which should not allow to banish refugees fleeing from a genocide.
×'שיעורי ×זר×-ות מלמ×"×™× ×¢×œ ×–×›×•×ª× ×• ×"מוסרית למ×"×™× ×" ועל ×יך ×"שו××" ×"יית×" × ×ž× ×¢×ª לו ×"יית×" ×œ× ×• מ×"×™× ×" ×'×©× ×•×ª ×"-30 של ×"מ××" ×"קו×"מת. ×× ×™ ×-וש×' שז×" × ×›×•×Ÿ, ×"× ××¦×™× ×¨×¦×• ל×"פטר מ×"×™×"ו×"×™× ×'×"ת×-ל×", ולו ×"יית×" מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל ×"×™× ×'ט×- ×"יית×" קולטת ×ת ×"קרו×'×™× ×©×œ× ×•. ××'ל ×–×" ×›× ×¨××" × ×›×•×Ÿ רק לקרו×'×™× ×©×œ× ×•. ×'סופו של ×"×'ר ×'× ×× ×-× ×• ×¢×•×¦×ž×™× ×¢×™×Ÿ ל×'עיות של ××-רי×. ×-×™×™×'×™× ×œ×©× ×•×ª ×ת ×–×", ×œ× ×ª×™×ורטית פע×, ××œ× ×¢×›×©×™×•, כש×'×™×'שת ×"×©×›× ×" מת×-ולל רצ×- ×¢× ×•×ž×¢×˜ ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×ž×'×™×¢×™× ×'× ××œ×™× ×•.×× ×™ ×œ× ×™×•×"×¢ ×יך, ×× ×™ ×ž× ×¡×" ×ת ×"×"רך ×"פשוט×" של ל×"×'ר על ×–×", ל×"ציע ל××-×¨×™× ×œ×"×'ר על ×–×", לתמוך ×'פעילות צי×'ורית, כשתקו×. ×× ×™ ×'×מת ×œ× ×™×•×"×¢ מ×" יכול ×זר×- לעשות ×›×ן כש×"מ×"×™× ×" שלו ×ž×ª× ×›×¨×ª ל×-ו×'×". ××'ל ×"×'ר ××-×" ×'רור: לו “×"×¢×” ×"×™×" מר×'יש ××-רת, לו ×"×זר×-×™× ×"יו מתקוממי×, ×'× ×ולמרט ×"×™×" מ×'ין שצריך לטפל ×'×–×" ××-רת. ×"לוו××™.
In
school we were taught that we have a moral right for a country of our own, and that the holocaust could have been prevented if we had a country of our own in the 1930s. I think that is true. The Nazis
wanted to get rid of the Jews from the beginning. Had the state of Israel been formed earlier, it probably would have received our fleeing ancestors. But that is true only for our ancestors. At the
end of the day, even we close our eyes to other people’s problems. This must change. Not in the theoretical future, but now, when a genocide is taking place in our neighboring continent, and a
small amount of refugees are reaching our territory. I don’t know how. I am trying the simple way of talking about it, offering others to join in the conversation, and supporting some form of
future public activism. I really don’t know what a single citizen can actually do here when his country ignores its duty. But one thing is clear: if the people felt differently, or if citizens
protest, even Olmert would realize that we need to take care of this situation differently.
I wish.
However, there has been a wide spectrum of reactions from different bodies and
groups in Israel. Kibbutzes around the country have been accepting Sudanese refugees. So far, 7 kibbutzes have already accepted 60 refugees, while 12 more kibbutzes have expressed their interest in
helping integrate refugees within their communities. Mishtara.org have been involved with a number of events aimed at raising public awareness to
this growing problem in Israel.I wish.
×× ×-× ×• שו××œ×™× ×ת ×זר×-×™ ישר×ל ו×ת × ×'×-רי×", ×"×× ×"×¤×›× ×• ×'סי ל×' ×¢×" ×›×"×™ כך ? ×"×× ×›×œ ×™×›×•×œ×ª× ×•, כו×-× ×• ו×'××•×•×ª× ×• ×"ן ×'×'× ×™×™×ª מערכות ×'ירוש ? ×"×× ×ין ×'×מת ××œ×˜×¨× ×˜×™×'ות ××-רות ? ×œ× ×• ×"תשו×'ות ×'רורות, ×™×©× ×Ÿ ××œ×˜×¨× ×˜×™×'ות. × ×¦×™×'×™ מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל ×˜×•×¢× ×™× ×›×™ ×"× ×"ו××'×™× ×œ×¢×ª×™×"×" של מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל, ×× ×-× ×• ×ž×¡×›×™×ž×™× ××™×ª× ×œ×-לוטין. ×× ×-× ×• ×"ו××'×™× ×œ×¢×ª×™×"×" של ×"מ×"×™× ×" ×œ× ×¤×-ות מ×"×. מ×" ×™×"×™×" עתי×"×" של מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל ×× ×"×™× ×ž×ª× ×¢×¨×ª כליל מ××-ריות×" ×"מוסרית? כיצ×" מ×"×™× ×ª ישר×ל יכול×" ל×"צ×"יק ×ת ×"×-לטת×" ×œ× ×œ×§×œ×•×˜ ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©×›×œ ‘פשעג ×"×•× ×¨×¦×•× × ×œ×-יות ?
×'×™×•× ×¨×שון 15.7, × ×¦×˜×¨×£ ×œ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×©× ×ž×¦××™× ×'×'ן ×"וור×"×™× ×'ירושלי×, ×•× ×¢×ž×•×" ×ית×. × ×¢×ž×•×" ×›×"×™ ל×"זכיר ×ת מ×" שר×'×™× ×ž×'×§×©×™× ×œ×"שכי×-. × ×¢×ž×•×" ×›×"×™ ל×פשר לתקוו×" ל×"תקיי×.
×× ×-× ×• קור××™× ×œ×זר×-×™ ×"מ×"×™× ×" ל×"ר×ות ש×"××œ×˜×¨× ×˜×™×'×" קיימת. ש×× ×• מסו×'×œ×™× ×•×¦×¨×™×›×™× ×œ×¢×–×•×¨ ×œ×¤×œ×™×˜×™× ×"מ×'×™×¢×™× ×œ×רץ.
We ask the citizens of Israel if we’ve become so coarse-hearted? Is our ability, power or
pride in building systems of banishment? Is there no other alternatives? For us, the answers are clear - there are alternatives. Israeli representatives state that they worry for the future of the
state of Israel. We agree with them completely. We also worry for the future of this country. What will the future of Israel look like if it shakes off its’ moral responsibility? How can Israel
justify its decision not to accept refugees who’s sole ‘crime’ is having a will to live?
On Sunday, July 15th, we will join refugees in Gan Havradim, Jerusalem, and we will stand with them. We will stand remind what most ask to forget. We will stand in order to allow for hope to exist. We ask citizens of the country to show that an alternative exists. That we can and must help refugees who come to our country.
The following images were taken by Oren Ziv at the rally in Jerusalem earlier this month:On Sunday, July 15th, we will join refugees in Gan Havradim, Jerusalem, and we will stand with them. We will stand remind what most ask to forget. We will stand in order to allow for hope to exist. We ask citizens of the country to show that an alternative exists. That we can and must help refugees who come to our country.
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