The Eritrean refugee crisis in Israel

1. The Eritrean refugee crisis in Israel conditions in and escape from Eritrea; situation for refugees in Israel; the Israeli perspective; testimonies; what to do?

2. Map of Eritrea

3. Conditions in Eritrea • Military dictatorship since independence from Ethiopia in 1990s: The North Korea of Africa • Private media and opposition parties illegal • Illegal imprisonment and torture of citizens • Forced and indefinite military service for all adult males: slave labor, no salary or vacation • Deserting the army or crossing the border is considered political opposition: torture/death

4. Escape from Eritrea • Mass exodus: 1 million of 5 million Eritreans live outside the country (20% of population) • Common escape routes: Ethiopia and Sudan, from there to Egypt – Israel or Libya – Italy (Europe) • Frequent kidnappings in Sudan and Ethiopia with month-long forced stay in Sinai and torture to exhort money from family members

5. Picture of torture victim/Sinai

6. Situation for Eritreans in Israel • Illegal for government to deport refugees threatened with death/torture at home • No determination of status: no work permit, hard to find housing, no future plans possible • Change of policy after international pressure: individual asylum applications now possible • Less than 1% of Eritreans asylum seekers are recognized as refugees (over 75% in Europe)

7. The Holot Detention Center • Opened in remote part of Negev desert in 2013 for indefinite detention of refugees • Up to 3500 spaces, 500 already deported • Prison-like conditions: locked-in at night, no work, roll call 3x daily = unable to leave • Goal to make people leave voluntarily • Protest march from Holot to Jerusalem in Dec. 2013 / hunger strikes

8. Holot Detention Center

9. The Israeli Perspective • New problem: 90% of 55 000 refugees (35 000 Eritrea) arrived since 2007 • Israel = Jewish state – non-Jewish immigrants threat to identity? • controversial topic: Minister of interior says most refugees are criminals and a „cancer in the body of Israel“ (2012)

10. Arguments about refugees • 1. „too many and more will come“: 50 000/8 million inhabitants - but new border fence with Egypt since 2013: hardly new arrivals • 2. „take away jobs“: Israeli unemployment rate 2013: 7%, economic growth 2013: 3,5% and ‘Aliyah’ policy allows unlimited Jewish migration regardless of qualifications • 3. „just economic migrants“: testimonies show massive political persecution; refugees risk death fleeing; arrival to Israel not voluntarily

11. Testimonies • Man forced to work as prison guard and to torture other prisoners – himself imprisoned and tortured after he helped prisoners to escape • Man forced to shoot people who were caught trying to flee the country and subjected to slave labour – joined illegal opposition party in Israel • Womanimprisonedandtorturedaspunishmentforhusband‘sescape • Student jailedandtorturedforlisteningtoforeignradiostations

12. What to do? • Solidarity visit to Holot Detention Center with African Danceand Music • Donate: soap (solid and liquid), shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pre-paid cards • Get training to fill out asylum seeker applications • Meet refugees in Eilat • Spread the word!

13. Humanity in Action • Non-profit organization for education about human rights (since 1997, in Poland since 2006) • Promotes intercultural dialogue and understanding and organizes internships • Annual cost-free summer fellowship (June) in Poland for university students and graduates from the United States, Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine and Bosnia • Learn more: www.humanityinaction.org/poland