Story has been updated multiple times to include additional interviews and information.
The Supreme Court of Israel ruled this evening to close a desert prison called Holot, a facility that Israeli lawmakers created last December to indefinitely hold African asylum seekers who had “infiltrated” the border.
According to the whopping
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At a “>issued a statement welcoming the verdict.
“In light of the last two High Court decisions upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, Israeli leaders have a lot to reflect on during the Days of Awe,” said Mark Hetfield, the organization's CEO. “We are hopeful that this reflection will result in a concerted effort to fulfill the Jewish values of justice, fairness, and welcoming refugees.”
“>posted the following to his Facebook page a few hours after the ruling came down: “A new dawn has come. A tremendous success is achieved by everyone who believes in justice and equal rights for mankind. … This is not about us but it is also about Israel and Israelis, never lose hope and never lose faith. Israel will be a better place and it is our responsibility to make it so.” (“>noted in its reaction statement that Holot is just one part of a larger issue. “While we are content with the High Court's ruling, we will continue to advocate for the rights of the 47,000 asylum seekers in Israel,” the group stated. “Without social rights like the right to work and without a fair refugee status determination process, asylum seekers in Israel are unable to properly care for themselves and their families.”
For more on Israel's Anti-Infiltration Law and its ramifications, see ““>Leaving Israel, Africans face detention, possibly death.”