Israel: Supreme Court suspends policy to deport African migrants March 15 /update 1

Event

On Thursday, March 15, the Israeli Supreme Court suspended a government plan to deport thousands of sub-Saharan African migrants from the country by April 1, barring such deportations until further notice and requiring state authorities to submit additional information about the plan by Monday, March 26. The decision comes after Eritrean and Sudanese migrants presented a legal challenge to Israel's new policy of deporting or imprisoning single, young, male migrants who have entered the country illegally and lack asylum claims under consideration. Migrants and sympathizers may stage related demonstrations in the coming days and weeks; a heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions are expected near potential demonstrations.

Context

According to the Israeli Ministry of the Interior, some 42,000 sub-Saharan African migrants are currently present in Israel, 50 percent of which face deportation, or imprisonment, if they do not leave Israel by April 1. Israeli authorities had offered the migrants USD 3500 and airfare to leave Israel voluntarily by the end of March.

Hundreds of sub-Saharan African migrants notably staged related demonstrations outside of the Saharonim Penitentiary near Nitzana (Southern District) on February 22 and in Tel Aviv on February 24.

Advice

Individuals in Israel are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution, and to adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

In general, due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (popular gatherings, public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, prominent hotels and restaurants, etc.). As a reminder, some Western governments advise their citizens against travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.