ministry of interior

A police officer arrives at the scene of a protest action by unknown activists against the deportations. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Following protest, Interior Ministry refuses to accept asylum requests

Activists splashed red paint and left mannequin heads at the entrance to the Population and Immigration Authority’s office in Tel Aviv. The Interior Ministry decided to collectively punish the asylum seekers in response. The Israeli Interior Ministry said it was refusing to process any asylum claims Sunday morning as a collective punishment of sorts in…

By Joshua Leifer January 28, 2018

Deporation of South Sudanese, Tel Aviv bus station July 11, 2012 (Activestills)

Israel doesn’t need to deport asylum seekers to make them leave

Six ways the Israeli government is intentionally making the lives of asylum seekers unbearable. By Elizabeth Tsurkov Since 2008, the Israeli government has been implementing several policies whose purpose is to make the lives of African asylum seekers miserable, in the words of former Israeli Minister of Interior, and to coerce them to leave Israel.…

By +972 Magazine June 24, 2015

An African asylum seeker shows a list of names of some of those waiting to renew their temporary visa, outside the Israeli Ministry of Interior's offices in Tel Aviv, early morning, November 1, 2012. Asylum seekers gather from midnight outside the offices to be first in line. Only 60-70 visas are renewed each day, meaning many have to return the next day to repeat the process. Unlike Israelis coming to the offices, the asylum seekers are not allowed into the building. An officer comes out and takes the documents, leaving the applicants outside, sometimes waiting for hours. The 2A5 temporary visa must be renewed every 3 months, regardless of the amount of time a person has been living in Israel. The temporary visa is their only legal document issued by the Israeli government, and can be revoked at any time without reason. (photo by: Oren Ziv/ Activestills.org)

Despite landmark High Court ruling, asylum seekers are only cautiously optimistic

Monday’s High Court ruling provided a major blow to the state’s attempt to hold asylum seekers in detention. However, despite the decision, asylum seekers are still not entitled to basic benefits such as health insurance, social services, housing and the freedom to work. By Elizabeth Tsurkov Refugees in Israel reacted with delight to the news of…

By +972 Magazine September 17, 2013

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Israeli bureaucracy leaves Sudanese vulnerable to arrest

Sudanese refugees from the Nuba Mountains are being registered by Israel’s Interior Ministry as South Sudanese, making it difficult for them to find and keep work, pay for rent, bills, or food, and subjecting them to potential arrest and deportation. How would you react if someone told you that your name was no longer your name? Even…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland November 11, 2012

ALSO CAN BE THUMB ketsiot, asylum seekers

Asylum seekers can now face years in prison over false accusation

The Prevention of Infiltration Law, which enables asylum seekers to be detained for three years or more without trial, can now be applied to anyone with a ‘criminal background.’ But what does ‘criminal background’ mean? It’s unclear. By Elizabeth Tsurkov In early July 2012, the Ministry of Interior and the Israel Police decided to allow…

By +972 Magazine August 25, 2012

World Refugee Week: A community deported, in pictures

Refugees and their supporters in Tel Aviv mark World Refugee Day on Friday. But amidst what is meant to be a celebratory event hangs a strong sense of unease, as Israel tightens its immigration policies, threatening to deport those who seek protection and to jail the ones it cannot expel. Last week, Israel began aggressive…

By +972 Magazine June 21, 2012

South Sudanese child abuse victims face expulsion with families

Among the hundreds of South Sudanese slated for deportation is a group of children who have been removed from their parents’ custody due to severe domestic violence. The authorities have not taken steps to ensure their protection, and they risk not only immediate deportation, but a forced return to abusive families. South Sudanese victims of…

By Noa Yachot June 13, 2012

Is there a link between Israeli profits, anti-African incitement?

As Interior Minister Eli Yishai incites against African asylum seekers–leading to outbreaks of violence against Africans–his ministry issues visas to foreigners who pay tremendous amounts of money to come to Israel. Interior Minister Eli Yishai has called African asylum seekers “infiltrators” who threaten “the Zionist dream,” adding, “Jobs will root them here.” But if foreigners…

By Mya Guarnieri Jaradat May 23, 2012

South Sudanese get last-minute reprieve from deportation

On Thursday, a Jerusalem District Court judge issued a temporary injunction preventing the Ministry of Interior from revoking the group protection of South Sudanese. The move effectively delays the deportation of South Sudanese refugees, which was set to begin today. Families, including Israeli-born children, are among those facing deportation to South Sudan. Human rights organizations say…

By Mya Guarnieri Jaradat March 31, 2012

Has Jewish immigration to Israel lost its significance?

Having immigrated to Israel a month ago, A. Daniel Roth contemplates the concept of ‘aliya’ — Jewish immigration to Israel — and how to make it significant. By A. Daniel Roth About a month ago I attended a lecture by one of my undergraduate professors from the Jewish studies department at the University of Toronto…

By +972 Magazine December 2, 2011

Proposed law would indefinitely jail refugees seeking protection

Israel was created 64 years ago by refugees and for refugees. But despite its young age, the state seems to suffer from memory loss when it comes to dealing with the refugees who seek its protection today. By Sigal Rozen The Refugee Convention is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The young State of Israel…

By +972 Magazine November 13, 2011

Top ten things that stink about moving in Tel Aviv

The hunt for elusive cardboard boxes, the crotchety new neighbors and the bureaucratic nightmare: Why did I think moving apartments would be fun? 10. Finding boxes: Every time I have to move I think back on all the boxes I carelessly threw away the last time I settled into a new home. What was I…

By Ori J. Lenkinski November 7, 2011