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African migrants walk on a road after leaving the Holot open detention facility.
Photo by Reuters
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The court must
make it clear that it refuses to support Israel’s unacceptable policies toward
asylum seekers.
“Exit routes” is how the state’s representative described Israel’s program for flying asylum seekers to Uganda and Rwanda, under the procedure Israel refers to as “voluntary departure.” But terms like these, which were used in last week’s High Court of Justice hearing on the issue, are simply part of the state’s effort to whitewash its deficient policy toward asylum seekers.
“Voluntary departure” is achieved by exerting heavy pressure on asylum seekers, including detention for an undetermined period in the Holot holding facility, whose operation is governed by the most recent amendment to the Prevention of Infiltration Law, the amendment now being reviewed by the High Court. “Exit routes” are countries – Uganda and Rwanda, as far as we know – in which the asylum seekers land without any arrangements having been made to secure their status or their rights.
Accounts published by Haaretz indicate that by and large, the asylum seekers have no documents or official permits to regulate their presence in those countries. After they arrive, they have no contact with official representatives of the destination country or of Israel, and no one seems to be assisting them. In the absence of transparency regarding the agreements Israel has signed with these countries, there is a serious concern that the asylum seekers are being abandoned to their fate.
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“Exit routes” is how the state’s representative described Israel’s program for flying asylum seekers to Uganda and Rwanda, under the procedure Israel refers to as “voluntary departure.” But terms like these, which were used in last week’s High Court of Justice hearing on the issue, are simply part of the state’s effort to whitewash its deficient policy toward asylum seekers.
“Voluntary departure” is achieved by exerting heavy pressure on asylum seekers, including detention for an undetermined period in the Holot holding facility, whose operation is governed by the most recent amendment to the Prevention of Infiltration Law, the amendment now being reviewed by the High Court. “Exit routes” are countries – Uganda and Rwanda, as far as we know – in which the asylum seekers land without any arrangements having been made to secure their status or their rights.
Accounts published by Haaretz indicate that by and large, the asylum seekers have no documents or official permits to regulate their presence in those countries. After they arrive, they have no contact with official representatives of the destination country or of Israel, and no one seems to be assisting them. In the absence of transparency regarding the agreements Israel has signed with these countries, there is a serious concern that the asylum seekers are being abandoned to their fate.
Read More
