{Israel is telling African refugees to accept a \u00a32,000 cash offer and a one-way ticket out of the country or face an indefinite stay in a desert prison.}<\/p>\n
The Eritrean and Sudanese migrants have been sent letters giving them 30 days to accept the offer of the cash and a ticket home or to another African country.<\/p>\n
Last month, a statement from the interior ministry’s population and immigration authority said Israel would identify qualifying migrants who cannot return home, inform them of their proposed ‘safe third-party’ destination and pay for their plane ticket and hotel there.<\/p>\n
It said the measure would apply to migrants currently at the southern Holot detention centre ‘who infiltrated Israel and cannot be expelled to their country of origin’.<\/p>\n
Although the third-party countries were not named, media and some charities said they are Rwanda and Uganda.<\/p>\n
The Washington Post has reported that the first of 45,000 refugees have received an offer of the cash as well as the one-way ticket. The location of the alternative – a stay in prison – has been revealed as Saharonim prison.<\/p>\n
The letter reads: ‘Money will be given to you at the airport in a secure manner. When you arrive at the third country, people will receive you at the airport and give you information about life in the country and other important information.’<\/p>\n
The Washington Post said Israeli officials do not tell the refugees where they will be going until they are given their plane ticket on the day. <\/p>\n
Last month’s statement from interior ministry read: ‘An infiltrator who agrees to this procedure will begin the preparations for leaving, an infiltrator who refuses will face a hearing following which it will be decided whether they will be imprisoned.’<\/p>\n
Interior Minister Gilad Erdan said the measure would ‘encourage infiltrators to leave Israel in a safe and dignified way, and will be an effective tool to upholding our commitment to return life to normal in Israel’.<\/p>\n
However, international rights groups protested against the plans, claiming Rwanda and Uganda are not safe and that migrants who arrive there are stripped of their cash and documents.<\/p>\n
Israel – a state built by refugees – has previously offered cash stipends to African migrants in return for them leaving the Jewish state.<\/p>\n
Last year, Israel began sending of African migrants to Uganda – giving them a one-way ticket and a stipend.<\/p>\n
The interior ministry said that since last year, 1,500 migrants ‘wilfully left to a third country, in addition to 7,000 who left for their country of origin’. <\/p>\n
While Israel is trying to rid itself of African refugees, Jewish emigration is still being encouraged.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: ‘To the Jews of Europe and to the Jews of the world I say that Israel is waiting for you with open arms.’ <\/p>\n
{{Daily Mail}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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