Israel’s forgotten deportees

The Daily Beast, July 3, 2012 While Israel’s current campaign to deport some 700-1500 South Sudanese asylum seekers made headlines around the world, the mainstream media has neglected another ongoing expulsion. Since March of 2011, the state has been arresting and deporting the Israeli-born children of migrant laborers along with their parents. In the past …

New threat looms over South Sudan refugees

Inter Press Service, March 19, 2012 Hundreds of African refugees and Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night under the banner ‘It’s dangerous in South Sudan’ to protest the imminent expulsion of 700 Sudanese asylum seekers, including children. A small group of counter-protesters attended to show their support for the government’s decision to deport …

A new nakba?

Counterpunch, April 22, 2011 Several weeks ago, Israeli authorities arrested M, a pregnant woman, along with her three-year-old, Israeli-born son. The young family—sans the father, who had been deported several months before—was briefly detained then expelled from the country. But don’t break out those Palestinian flags just yet. This was a family of migrant workers. …

Israeli town rallies against African refugees

Al Jazeera English, April 13, 2011 James Anei was a 16-year-old boy when he witnessed a massacre, carried out by militias loyal to the government in Khartoum. Terrified, he fled his village in South Sudan. “You see someone dying in front of you and you know this guy and you know his parents and so …

Israel’s uneven justice

Maan News Agency, April 13, 2011 Last week, Israeli immigration police arrested and deported a three-year-old boy, born and raised in Israel. The toddler was detained and expelled to the Philippines along with his mother, M, who is pregnant. The children’s father is a migrant worker from Thailand who was deported several months ago. Distance …

Israel declares war on its own people

Al Jazeera English, October 14, 2010 You could easily miss the thin, gravel road that leads to Al Arakib, a Bedouin village in the north Negev. It’s a bit ironic, given the enormity of the struggle there and its deep implications for the Jewish state. Israeli forces have razed the village five times since late …