African Refugees To Israelis: Please Do Not Hate Us

"We assure the Israeli public that we are not a threat to Israel or to its Jewish character. We have been labeled with so many names so far, such as economic migrants, infiltrators and so on, expressing in a contradictory way our true reasons for being here."

Please don’t hate us
Op-ed: Eritrean asylum seekers concerned by protests write open letter to Israelis
Haile Mengisteab, et al • Ynet

We are very concerned by what is going on in Israel towards the refugees in general, and particularly by the action taken by some community members in south Tel Aviv on December 21.

We of course respect the rally held against us refugees, but we believe that the Israeli people do not have any information about our real problems, as otherwise they would not hold the rally.
 
We assure the Israeli public that we are not a threat to Israel or to its Jewish character. We have been labeled with so many names so far, such as economic migrants, infiltrators and so on, expressing in a contradictory way our true reasons for being here.

We are begging the people of Israel and the government of Israel to provide us with protection. We are not here to claim citizenship, but rather, for reasons of safety and protection of our lives which we do not have in our country of origin (and unfortunately not in Israel either.)

The reasons that brought us here have to do with the unstable and unjust political leadership of the regime at home. We were forced to flee, and none of us likes being the victim of exile. We hail from a culture with good norms and values of respecting human dignity. We show a very positive approach towards foreigners in our country, and abide by the law.

We want to make it clear that we are not infiltrators or economic migrants. Rather, we are people with real political problems and we are at the top of the global ranking in terms of asylum seekers in need. In fact, some 88% of Eritrean asylum seekers in other countries are granted refugee status. We strongly condemn the racial or other discrimination that we are facing in Israel, yet at the same time we are ready to talk and negotiate with all who are against us.

At last, we would like to remind you that there is nothing permanent in the world so one day there will be peace and stability, and the good things done to us by the Israeli government and people while we faced adverse conditions will be told in history to generations. Realizing this, we plead with you not to hate us, engage in terror against us or cause us mental distress. We are the right people at the right time, in need of protection.

We therefore politely request the government and the people of Israel to reconsider the steps that have been announced against us, which truly put the lives of refugees in danger.

Thank you.

Haile Mengisteab, Mehari Okubai, Kidane Essak, Tesfai Hadgn, and Keberom Mengistu are members of the Committee of Eritrean Asylum Seekers in Israel.

 

Comments

[Adam Neira]

The State of Israel as a sovereign nation has a right to decide its population and immigration policy. The long term solution is for Israel and other advanced countries to mentor the poorer countries. Creating other points of light and centres of safety and prosperity will mean less of a flow of people to various nations. Call this policy "Messianic Neo-Colonialism" if you like.

Many people have great trouble with the idea of sovereignty. The world is awash with violation of boundaries. The concept of a healthy border to some people is a foreign land. As has been prophesied quite clearly a time would arise in human history when most people would not know the difference between right and wrong and thus discretion would be found wanting.
I first used the following example about the need for respect of healthy boundaries to some low-thought bubble people in June 2001 whilst I was involved in a campaign to save an old community centre from greedy developers. The dreadlocked couple (I have nothing against what people wear or their hair style, within reason. I do care what people believe, how they see the world and their frame of reference however. Poor thoughts lead to poor actions. Poor actions lead to poor consequences. The world needs less poor consequences, Apologies for going off-tangent.)

They were arguing for completely open borders and to let in all the refugees. The conversation went back and forth for quite awhile. They were getting heated. I just remained calm. I was suddenly blessed to give them this mental picture which would hopefully stop them in their tracks.
I asked them that if they went home tonight to their communal house in the inner city, (BTW, paid for by federal government assistance/taxpayers as a result of a safety net brought in by people with a respect for the Judeo-Christian foundation of Western Civilization. I didn't push this point as it would have been like throwing petrol on a fire) and they discovered fifty strangers had taken over their nice little bedroom, would they have been happy to share the space after battling away tirelessly against the ills of the world with their joints and coffee shop activist friends ? (Excuse this extremely long sentence. Again I left the medicinal substances part out of the question.)

I was met with a perplexed, far-off stare. A look of total confusion. Similar to one you might receive if you replied sincerely "It's a nice day isn't it ?" to the pre-programmed robot McDonald’s attendant who was asking you "Would you like fries with that ?" After a few internal hours of mental cog shifting the reply was a mixture of venom, confusion, disgust and shock. A bit like a fuse box blowing up. I was going to offer them more discussion points, but then that old biblical saying about pearls before swine came to mind. Some people just can’t be reasoned with. They must be dealt with in other ways. We all have our respective vantage points. Thank G-d !

P.S. The word "nation" is mentioned over three hundred times in the Tanach. The concept of a sovereign nation is a divinely mandated one.

[ruthie]

oh, for g-d's sake, treat these people kindly. maybe, as they like to think, it's a test from g-d???
they're human beings...we're human beings...jewish people were once treated like that and NOW WE SHOULD TREAT PEOPLE THE SAME WAY??? LIKE THAT? c'mon...

[nobody]

One positive thing here is they just surrendered voting rights by saying they do not demand citizenship. That at least helps. Btw did a woman write this letter (I can't tell from the name)? Unfortunately, based on experienced impact upon their moving in, most of their men are not so civilized and eloquent like this letter writer.

[yidandahalf]

Perhaps they could enlist in Wolpe's upcoming militia.

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

I once helped a Sudanese refugee in the US get asylum status because her family was getting arrested for political opposition (they were liberals who believed in human rights).

It is a mitzvah of which I am still proud. As a Jew I knew about the horrors of WWII when my family and others were denied refugee status and asylum.

How can Jews not support asylum. I am open to debates about the facts and to practical arguments about how to balance Israel's needs with the needs of asylum seekers.

I am repelled at racism or indifference to the plight of asylum seekers.

[Chicago Sam]

Every country has its challenges with the plight of migrant workers and refugees seeking political asylum, but it is imperative that in these anti-Semitic times that these refugees be integrated into Israeli society. In the 70s, that is exactly what Israel did with the famous Boat People.

Why? Because it is compassionate and consistent with the highest ethics of our people--for, we too were once slaves in Egypt and nobody cared about our suffering . . .

It also makes for excellent public relations, for we can tell the enemies of Israel that Israel is sensitive to the plight of homeless people.

On the other hand, the world does not judge Israel fairly when it behaves like every other nation. That's simply reality,

I would encourage that the government welcome these people and teach them about Judaism as a possible faith for them to embrace. I believe that as a whole, this is an opportunity to create a great Kiddush HaShem before the entire world.

Remember, Israel is having such a miserable time making its case to the international community. Surely an act of kindness like this could do considerable good for our people.

[eli]

Shemarya your headline is misleading-
99% of the Africans coming to Israel are not refugees. They are job seekers. There presence in Israel poses a threat to the states Jewish character. They are also overwhelming Israel's limited police and health infrastructure. They bring crime and social problems. As an Israeli living in Israel I say very simply – kick them out.

shalom

[Shmarya]

99% of the Africans coming to Israel are not refugees. They are job seekers.

That is false.

There presence in Israel poses a threat to the states Jewish character. They are also overwhelming Israel's limited police and health infrastructure. They bring crime and social problems.

I think it's time Jews stopped blaming the US, CUBA, Switzerland, and other countries for not taking in Jews fleeing Europe in 1938.

[nobody]

"I think it's time Jews stopped blaming the US, CUBA, Switzerland, and other countries for not taking in Jews fleeing Europe in 1938."

Who said that Jews have to keep blaming people? Jews have to preserve themselves, not point fingers.

As to the point in their letter where they write: "At last, we would like to remind you that there is nothing permanent in the world so one day there will be peace and stability, and the good things done to us by the Israeli government and people while we faced adverse conditions will be told in history to generations."

Not when they find out that Israel was in collusion with its "peace partner" and beloved ally Egypt in light of the treatment Egypt gave to them and their families on the way! They will hate Israel as an accomplice to authoritarian terror.