Israeli lawmakers approve preliminary bill to expel pro-regime Eritrean migrants
The legislation, which was approved on Wednesday with a 51-0 vote, is now set to be reviewed by a standing committee before further readings.
A controversial bill seeking to deport Eritrean migrants who support their home country's government has passed its preliminary reading in the Israeli Knesset.
The legislation, which was approved on Wednesday with a 51-0 vote, is now set to be reviewed by a standing committee before further readings.
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"These individuals are here as asylum seekers, but at the same time, they support the regime and therefore are not in danger in their country and can be returned to their homeland." said the bill's sponsor, Yisrael Beytenu MK Yulia Malinovsky, on Monday.
The bill comes in the wake of persistent tensions within Israel's Eritrean migrant community, which numbers around 20,000 people.
For years, various Israeli governments have attempted to implement measures to encourage the departure of asylum seekers from Eritrea, citing concerns over crime and security. However, Israeli courts have blocked many of these efforts.
However, recent violent clashes between pro- and anti-regime Eritrean factions have reignited the debate, with a particularly intense conflict in September 2023 leaving at least 170 people injured, including police officers.
"This bill is the first step toward restoring security and peace to the residents of South Tel Aviv," added Malinovsky.
She further alleged that pro-regime Eritrean migrants were responsible for a significant portion of crime in the area, reinforcing her argument that they should be deported.
"I visited South Tel Aviv this week and was exposed to the chaos that is taking place there, and the main perpetrators of crime are the Eritrean regime-supporting infiltrators," she stated.
According to her, local police are struggling to manage the unrest due to a lack of appropriate legal tools, and many businesses operate outside the law, dealing exclusively in cash and evading taxes.
Moreover, she contended that continued leniency towards such migrants compromises Israeli citizens' safety and erodes the rule of law.
"Will the government once again hesitate at the expense of Israeli citizens' security?" she challenged.
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