Netanyahu's warning: Eritrean asylum seekers face deportation after Tel Aviv unrest

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【Summary】Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to deport Eritrean asylum seekers following violent clashes between the asylum seekers and the Israeli police. The clashes occurred during protests in Tel Aviv, during which at least 160 people were injured. Netanyahu has called for tough measures, including deportations, against those involved in the violence.

FutureCar Staff Sep 03, 2023 10:07 AM PT

Netanyahu's warning: Eritrean asylum seekers face deportation after Tel Aviv unrest

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for tough measures, including deportations, against those involved in the violent clashes between Eritrean asylum seekers and the Israeli police. The clashes occurred during protests that started with a march on the Eritrean embassy in Tel Aviv. The protests were meant to mark the 30th anniversary of the Eritrean regime's rise to power.

Similar events around the world have also been marred by violence or cancelled due to concerns about tensions. Israeli police reported that at least 160 people were wounded, with some in serious condition, as a result of the clashes. Additionally, 50 police officers were injured and 50 people were arrested.

The prime minister's office announced that a special ministerial team will be convened to review the possibility of taking action against illegal infiltrators involved in the unrest, including deportation. The police force faced chaos in responding to the violent unrest, with one officer describing the protests as intense and stating that they could have resulted in casualties if not for police intervention.

The protests turned into street battles lasting several hours, with rioters causing damage to property in the south of Tel Aviv where many asylum seekers reside. An investigation has been opened to determine the lawfulness of the Israeli police's use of firearms during the clashes.

Organizations supporting refugees and asylum seekers criticized the Eritrean embassy's interference in the lives of those who fled the dictatorship, stating that similar events in other countries have been cancelled due to the fear of violence. They called the clashes a "bloody failure" that could have been prevented.

The Israeli right rejects the claims of African migrants seeking asylum, referring to them as "illegal infiltrators." Netanyahu has requested plans to remove "all the other illegal infiltrators" in the country, while the National Security Minister is planning to introduce a law that would allow mass deportations of those who entered Israel illegally.