There are approximately 53,000 African Refugees and Asylum Seekers currently residing in Israel, mostly from Sudan and Eritrea. Because Israel did not want to accept the refugees while also recognizing the danger (in terms of human life and also International Law) of returning the them to their home countries, the State issued “conditional release visas” to the asylum seekers. The conditional release visa allows them to stay in the country but prohibits the refugees from obtaining work visas, health insurance, or other state benefits. At the close of 2013, on Human Rights Day no less, the Israeli Knesset amended the Anti-Infiltration law to allow for indefinite detention of asylum seekers in an “open” internment camp at Holot in the Negev. I say “open” because the asylum seekers are required to check in three times per day so that they cannot go out to work or travel.
In response, the African Refugees and Asylum seekers began organizing their community with the demand that the Israeli State begin processing their asylum requests as well as for basic human rights. From December 5th to 28th, there were two “” target=”_blank”>Petition to the Israeli Government: Uphold the Rights of the Asylum Seekers.