ISRAEL: GOVERNMENT'S INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC LEADS TO UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR IMMIGRANTS

The second in the series of articles written by guest bloggers features Uche Ndaji's work on the plight of African Immigrants in Israel. In this thought provoking piece she highlights the dangerous views being publicly voiced by high ranking politicians who should frankly know better considering the history relating to how the Israeli nation itself was founded. The piece contains views which are the author's alone. Enjoy!!!



Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared last week that refugees and migrant workers threatened the fabric of the Israeli state, its security and Jewish identity. But the riots that ensued after the inflammatory statement was made came as no surprise, when Hatikva a predominantly black neighbourhood in South Tel Aviv was besieged by protestors on Wednesday night with reports of attacks on shops owned by immigrants, whilst residents were beaten and property damaged.


Distorted Facts

According to a report by the Feinstein International Center by the end of 2010, there were 33,273 African immigrants and asylum seekers in Israel yet the rhetoric of migrants as a problem blurs the line between illegal and legal migrants.

What appears shameful is that a people with such a tragic history, ancestral victims of segregation failed to display sympathy towards fellow targets of persecution who are mostly Sudanese and Eritrean nationals fleeing maltreatment. Some of the migrants have suffered impossible cruelty at the hands of Bedouin smugglers including rape and beatings from gangs who are remunerated and trusted with getting them safely across the border from Egypt to Israel.

Anti-immigration comments by top politicians within the Israeli government have been part of the political discourse for years but it is the seniority of the officials and toxicity of their remarks that activates ignorance. Interior Minister Eli Yishai went as far as to support immediate detention of so-called “infiltrators” whilst claiming that the provision of jobs would encourage migrants to settle, persuading more to join. Clearly Mr. Yishai has not been acquainted with the word multiculturalism or diversity.


Parallels with South Africa

Last week’s attacks are somewhat comparable to the deplorable xenophobic attacks in South Africa which began in 2008 where refugees and migrant workers were left at the mercy of violent thugs. As thousands of foreigners, refugees and asylum seekers were displaced; the South African government did little to quell the problems, paying lip service to the hate crimes caused by lack of opportunity which were blamed on immigrants. At present, an undercurrent of intolerance persists, proving that mishandling immigration problems imposes feelings of marginalisation from the perspective of working class natives and foreigners.

In both the Israeli and South African cases there is a correlation between deprivation and xenophobia. Though in the Israeli case there is evidence that the government is actively substituting its failure to tackle the illegal immigration problem by exploiting the competitive employment market between working class Israelis and African refugees.


Government’s breach of International Conventions

Certainly illegal immigration is a problem for most developed countries; according to recent statistics released by the UK the Home Office recorded an increase in asylum applications by 11%. We live in an increasingly unstable world which triggers an influx of refugees seeking safety from poverty stricken nations and war torn regions. The solution to managing illegal immigration requires a responsible reaction by any government in adherence to international duties under the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees which include humane treatment, non-discrimination and freedom of religion.

However, such fundamental rights have been denied countless refugees in Israel including detentions without charge and lack of employment opportunities which constitutes a contravention of the clauses stipulated in the Refugee Convention. The Israeli government needs to take responsibility for failing to secure its borders, a neglect which prompted the arrival of numerous migrants.


Sound-off

Indisputably, unrestrained migration is unfeasible for the economic structure of a country but it poses little threat to culture or democracy because a democracy is tolerant towards other cultures. A democracy cultivates the customs of a particular state alongside the cultures of migrants who enter principally for economic purposes and not necessarily to become a burden on the state. Michal Pinchuk director for the Aid Organisation for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel points out that Mr. Yishai’s comments “took advantage of individual criminal cases in order to incite against an entire population.”

There are proper legal and humane ways available for Israel to solve its illegal immigration problems. These include deportations for those who commit crimes and are not legally permitted to be in the country whilst granting asylum to those who work, obey the law and meet the state’s immigration requirements, it as simple as that. Using immigration to incite bigotry is the quickest way of achieving political infamy.



Uche Ndaji studied law in Manchester and is an aspiring writer. She is currently working on several projects including a full length fiction piece and several short stories. She has a keen interest in domestic and international politics and will no doubt be featured here again in the future.

JIM GHEDI: MY THOUGHTS

This week's piece is written by Jim Ghedi, a multi talented individual with hands in music, acting, art and the like. We are grateful to Jim for this article but please note that the contents of the piece are solely the views of its writer and not the blog's author. Enjoy!


The extraordinary beauty and richness of the world cannot be comprehended by any human capacity, we all await what we cannot comprehend and in that there is a beautiful contradiction.

So when we pass on, this power we hold within ourselves opens up to this universal collective energy, what I like to call eternity's soul. That is why while we're all on this physical plain we must together work industriously for human virtues, serve and uphold common goodness for humanity over material means. The key is solidarity.

My ideas are formed on moral incentives, throughout history good men have been demonized for their freedom of thought, through time we must learn and if time has taught us anything it has been solidarity to continue to shape each others vision and push each other creatively for the benefit of humankind.

Passion and love are the forces which motivate our worth, we cannot wait for change.
This society has us working for a meaningless existence, human beings serve an empty function in the concept of making money instead of working for the collective good of humanity or progressively into more positive areas of international social development, i.e. poverty, justice, aid, securing weapons and nuclear disarmament, peace, truth and love.

Let’s build for a better world instead of staying silent in this dehumanizing system that they trap us within. Inside this meaningless empty existence where human beings work to barely survive or feed their families lets connect and create a universal brotherhood and sisterhood with each other, let’s speak our hearts and use our voice for the benefit of humanity. Universal love is what I plead for and seek.

The ability of all beings to carry the spirit of good is embodied within us all. I realise this will sound like another leftist, hippie idealism, but ideals were built upon for others to direct through cultural activism, without ideals there we would stand voiceless.

Truth, love and the oneness of God is the basis upon which this idealism is built. I echo the ideology of Malcolm X, God being a concept which isn't in any religious form but binding the world’s energies together through a mutual existence. If I could leave anything on this earth it would be the memory of this, that I in anyway pushed for this vision to be shared everyday of my life.

Through music and creative arts as my only weapons to express this, I shall use it as the platform and as music is the only food for my soul, strength is love. Let us learn from the message great spirits have left for us. In love and peace we shall flourish.



Jim Ghedi is a Sheffield based musician, poet, writer and general maverick artist. He is currently involved in two main projects in Sheffield under names of Black Gold Of The Sun (His band) & Jim Ghedi and Neal Heppleston (His duo work with a double bass player).

Gaining attention around Manchester as a poet in the previous years, his focus now in his words is "making as much music as possible and giving as much goodness to humanity" he continues “I have always had a general disregard for my own life, my purpose is for others"

He grew up around music and plays several instruments. He also started writing his own music from the age of 8. Jim also has a keen interest in performing arts and has studied Theatre Acting at a performing arts school, thereby adding other strings to his bow.

His philosophy is Art as Activism, he states "I measure richness in life, on someone’s humanity, morality and what is within that human being, it's not about money, it's actually very simple, it's about living your life and expressing your feelings"

At the age of 21 he is a great up and coming artist who shows in-depth philosophical insight, keen observation, a desperate plea to a world to connect and a general voice which has a bitter truth to it. All of this is reflected within his works which are available to the public.

You can catch him at his upcoming gigs advertised on his websites (http://www.facebook.com/JimGhediNealHeppleston and http://www.facebook.com/BlackGoldOfTheSunMusic). He is also present on twitter at @ghediheppleston

GLOBAL PERSONALITIES OF THE WEEK: PALESTINE PRISONERS DETAINED WITHOUT CHARGE

Embarking on a hunger strike is generally accepted as being a measure of last resort against perceived injustice. This week the United Nations chief vociferously attacked Israel’s continued policy of detaining Palestinians without charge. Ban Ki-moon urged Israel to release the around 4,700 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, some of whom have been detained for several years.

It is reported that about 2,000 of those prisoners have been on hunger strike for weeks with the aim of seeking better conditions. Ban Ki-moon’s pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears as an Israeli government spokesman, Mark Regev, seemed to indicate that giving in to the hunger strikers’ demands would be akin to presenting the prisoners with a ‘get-out-of-jail’ card.

A right to a fair trial should be one of the fundamental rights accorded every human being, and regardless of the scale of the allegations made against these men and women, they should have a right to be informed of the charges made against them and also provided an opportunity to defend themselves against the said charges. Unfortunately this is a right very much taken for granted by many of us residing in the comfort of the West.

AFGHANISTAN: UN REPORTS OF FALL IN CIVILIAN DEATHS LEADS TO HOPES FOR PEACE

This week’s report that the civilian death rates in Afghanistan have fallen for the first time in five years comes as welcome news to NATO, whose combat forces are due to leave the country in 2014.

The UN, via its special envoy to Afghanistan Jan Kubis, revealed that there had been a staggering 20% decline in the number of civilian deaths in comparison with the period of January through to April of the past year. Mr Kubis attributed this statistic to several factors which include the fact that there has been less fighting in the first four months of this year as well as the laudable increased efforts being exerted by pro-government and international military forces to prevent civilian casualties.

In this vein, Mr Kubis identified a “very clear desire” by international forces to prevent civilian casualties. Mr Kubis added: “Definitely, I see a much stronger effort to address this problem on their side, the pro-government forces and on the side of ISAF (the International Security Assistance Force).”

The news of the reduction in civilian deaths was unexpected to say the least. Recent figures released in relation to Afghan civilian death rates last year indicated that civilian death rates rose by five per cent from figures recorded in 2010. In 2011, it was reported that more than 3,000 civilians lost their lives while around 4,500 people were injured by suicide attacks, roadside bombs and other violence in the country in that period.

The good news was announced against the background of recent strains in Afghan-U.S.A relations. The relationship or whatever was left of it was seemingly destroyed in the aftermath of the Koran-burning fiasco when copies of the Muslim holy book were allegedly mistakenly destroyed by American soldiers, and latterly, the unprovoked killing of unarmed Afghan civilians by a US Army officer. Following these incidents the Taliban and their acolytes promised all by way of revenge attacks, aside the biblical fire and brimstone. Fortunately that hasn’t materialised on the scale one anticipated.

Despite the news, NATO, the USA and pro-government officials will do well to guard against any complacency in their fight against insurgents and the Taliban. For one, some attribute the fall in civilian deaths to the country’s coldest winter for three decades. Secondly, it is well known that fighting significantly drops during the winter period and also reaches its zenith when warmer temperatures emerge. Unfortunately recent reports of suicide bombings and armed attacks against government and NATO targets in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul seem to lend credence to these lines of reasoning.

After 11 years of fighting which has resulted in an estimated 61,000 civilian deaths and about 3,000 NATO casualties, one hopes that this very much welcome news is not a false dawn but a prelude to an eventual cessation of hostilities and in turn a new beginning for this eternally troubled nation.

MEXICO: THE JOURNALIST’S GRAVEYARD

Last week’s killings of Mexican journalists again highlight the dangers faced by those engaged in the profession within the developing world. The dismembered remains of Guillermo Luna and Gabriel Huge were discovered by the authorities in the Mexican state of Veracruz following their recent disappearance. Mr Huge worked for the popular newspaper, Notiver, while Mr Luna, a relative of Mr Huge was said to have been a photojournalist at a local photo agency.

The deaths come on the heels of recent murders of journalists in the country including those of Regina Martinez, a writer at a national newspaper who was found dead at her home and prior to that, the killing of Yolanda Ordaz. Martinez was said to have recently written about police corruption and in one of her pieces, exposed a group of police officers who had been infiltrated by drug cartels. It is not only journalists who have been targeted by the cartels as bloggers are also reported to have suffered similar fates to that of their more illustrious counterparts.

The deaths have been blamed on violent drug gangs, the most famous of which are the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel who have successfully turned this North American powerhouse into a violent battleground. The methods of execution preferred by the gangs include decapitation as well as the hanging or displaying of the body parts of murdered victims in public squares, parks, fields and bridges as a means of intimidating both their enemies and members of the public who presumably harbour any thoughts of reporting the drug cartels’ nefarious activities to the authorities.

Worryingly for the government which is led by the country’s President, Felipe Calderon, Veracruz was until recently deemed to be one of the country’s safest regions. The infiltration of Veracruz by the armed gangs is therefore being seen by Calderon’s opponents as indication that the government is fighting a losing battle in its long-running operation against the country’s drugs cartels. With presidential elections due to be held later in the year, Calderon will struggle to convince voters, many of whom have suffered direct or indirect loss as a result of the conflict, that achievements are being made in its battle against the drug gangs.

Recently released figures by the authorities indicate that nearly 50,000 people have died in the last five years as a result of the violence, the majority of whom have been members of the country’s security forces, drug cartel members and in the majority innocent individuals who have had no links to the gangs.

Although the government continually asserts that it has employed more than adequate manpower in its bid to curtail the activities of the gangs – more than 50,000 security forces have been deployed to tackle the menace of drug cartels – this has for the most part failed to generate the desired results. Observers blame amongst others, the corruption of security officers, the lack of accountability of security personnel who are said to be responsible for large numbers of deaths of innocent civilians who have been mistakenly identified as collaborators. More importantly and of concern are in some cases justified reports of the infiltration of police and military personnel by these gangs.

According to the Paris-based organisation, Reporters Without Borders, last year Mexico was third on the list of countries where journalists had suffered the most deaths, following closely on the heels of Pakistan and Iraq. Aside the killings, many journalists have been forced to give up their source of livelihoods as a result of threats being made against them, many have fled their homes and several newspaper offices have had to be shut down or have relocated after being sprayed with bullets or destroyed by explosives.

In the aftermath of the killings, Reporters Without Borders released a statement calling for the perpetrators of the crimes to be brought to justice. It stated: "We demand justice for Martinez and all other journalists who have been killed…Crime pays if it goes unpunished." Whether the criminals who are responsible for the killings will ever be brought to justice widely remains to be seen but unfortunately what is easier to predict and based on the statistics to hand, is that the deaths of Huge and Luna will not be the last unsolved murders of journalists to be reported out of Mexico this year.