ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN ISRAEL FACE DEPORTATION AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001982 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2018 TAGS: PREF PHUM PREL PGOV IS EG SUBJECT: ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN ISRAEL FACE DEPORTATION AND ARREST Classified By: DCM Luis G. Moreno for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On August 28, African Refugee Development Center Director Yohannes Lemma reported to RefCoord that, in the past few days, Israeli authorities had returned at least 15 African asylum-seekers to Egypt. UNHCR Senior Liaison Officer Mike Alford separately told RefCoord that an IDF spokesperson confirmed that some returns had taken place, but that he had no idea how many. Lemma also worried about recent arrests and detentions of asylum-seekers in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas. He estimated that 100 people arrested eight days ago remain in detention without access to a judge despite a legal requirement to bring detainees before a judge within 96 hours. End Summary. Possible "Hot Returns" to Egypt -------------- ¶2. (C) On August 28, African Refugee Development Center (ARDC) Director Yohannes Lemma told RefCoord that at least 15 African asylum seekers were returned across the Israel-Egypt border in the early morning hours of August 27. He said that a sympathetic IDF soldier had called him with the information, saying that his unit had received orders to return the 15 people. Lemma believes that as many as 80 asylum seekers have been returned in the past week. ¶3. (SBU) UNHCR Senior Liaison Officer Mike Alford separately told Refcoord that he believes that "hot returns" did happen this past week, but that he has no idea how many people were returned. He said that an IDF spokesperson issued a one line statement on August 27 confirming that some Africans were returned across the border to Egypt. Alford reported that UNHCR quickly sent a faxed letter to the Ministry of Interior's Immigration Authority Director Yaakov Ganot. Although he has not yet replied, Alford said, other MOI contacts claimed they knew nothing about the returns and that it must have been an IDF-led effort. Alford said that this news came on the heels of another incident on August 26 in which a woman, traveling with her 3-year-old daughter, was shot by Egyptian border police. Another African man crossing with the group scooped up the 3-year-old girl and brought her into Israel. The girl, now alone, is temporarily in a kibbutz outside Eilat. (Note: Recent press reports suggest that Egyptian border guards have shot and killed at least 18 Arican asylum-seekers so far this year. End Note.) Arrests and Detention of African Asylum Seekers -------------- -- ¶4. (C) ARDC Director Lemma worried that Israeli athorities are "cracking down" on asylum-seekers s a deterrent against new arrivals. One 20-yearold man residing in an ARDC shelter with UNHCR potection papers and an MOI-issued visa was arresed along with others eight days ago and is still in detention in Ramla, he said. Lemma believes that at least 100 asylum seekers are in Ramla and have not seen a judge despite a legal requirement to present detainees within 96 hours of arrest. RefCoord subsequently alerted UNHCR's Mike Alford who agreed to investigate the matter immediately. ¶5. (C) Alford believes that many of the arrests are due to the "Hadera-Gadera visa," which imposes geographic restrictions prohibiting African asylum-seekers from traveling south of Hadera and north of Gadera. This area of central Israel includes Jerusalem and Tel Aviv where asylum-seekers must travel to renew their UNHCR protection papers and government visas. Lemma reported problems, including arrest, faced by asylum-seekers sleeping outside of MOI offices in Lod (near Ben Gurion airport) while trying to renew their visas. COMMENT Current registration policies and procedures at the Lod facility have raised concern since its opening three weeks ago. The primary issues are lack of training for new staff members and lengthy adversarial interviews as opposed to brief registrations based on applicants' biographical information. The outcome has been that some asylum applicants have had their claims determined prior to interview, on the basis of prima facie evidence judged by individuals who lack understanding of relevant refugee laws. END COMMENT Eritrean Community Now At Risk -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In the first half of 2008, Eritreans benefited from a six-month visa issued by the Ministry of Interior allowing them to work in Israel. Now, however, the MOI is issuing only one or three-month "conditional release" papers, which allow only for movement in the Hadera-Gadera zone and do not necessarily allow for employment. Thousands of Eritreans, Lemma said, are now unemployed and have limited access to NGO services, which are concentrated in Tel Aviv. In some instances, he said, the MOI has required asylum-seekers to sign an agreement to leave the country within three months before issuing them new papers. Other Eritreans do not receive any papers, Lemma noted, because the MOI believes they are Ethiopians; Lemma claimed that MOI officials make these decisions without conducting a thorough interview. Lemma is convinced that the new Immigration Authority Director Yaakov Ganot is responsible for these unpredictable procedures and policies; these decisions do not come from the political echelon, he opined. ¶7. (C) COMMENT We are concerned by the reports of "hot returns" and continued detention of asylum-seekers holding UNHCR protection letters. Post will continue to follow this issue closely and intends to meet soon with Immigration Authority Director Ganot to discuss our concerns. END COMMENT ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** CUNNINGHAM