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.
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