Israel: Govt scraps plan to forcibly deport African migrants

Israel has scrapped a plan to forcibly deport tens of thousands of illegal African migrants. In a written response to the country’s Supreme Court, the government said forced removal of the migrants “is no longer on the agenda”. However, Israel’s immigration authorities are still seeking ways to deport migrants voluntarily, it said. The fate of […]

Israel has scrapped a plan to forcibly deport tens of thousands of illegal African migrants.

In a written response to the country’s Supreme Court, the government said forced removal of the migrants “is no longer on the agenda”.

However, Israel’s immigration authorities are still seeking ways to deport migrants voluntarily, it said. The fate of Israel’s roughly 30,000 illegal African migrants has become a hugely contentious issue.

The Supreme Court previously suspended a plan to expel the migrants – mostly from Eritrea and Sudan – unless they voluntarily accepted a cash lump sum and a plane ticket out of the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then cancelled a UN deal to resettle the migrants in Western nations.