Slippery Slope

A report published by a committee headed by Prof. Arnon Sofer and which was submitted to Minister of Interior Eli Yishai (Shas) concludes that the solution to the “infiltrator” question is a policy of ignoring the UN’s position in regards to the security situation in their countries of origin, transferring them to detention facilities in the south, and formulation of a strict policy in regards to NGOs trying to assist the asylum seekers. (Ynetnews)

(Hebrew – nrg)

Minister of Interior, Eli Yishai (Shas), admits that more than 2,000 North Sudanese were returned to their country “voluntarily” when faced with the choice of a prolonged detention, in violation of the UN’s position that such a return is forbidden since Sudan threatens to punish citizens who were in Israel. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

For nearly a year now, the Ministry of Interior’s Population and Immigration Authority and the Office for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) have been avoiding the publication of working procedures governing the departure from the Gaza Strip by Israeli civilians who reside in the strip.

(Hebrew – Gisha)

The Ministry of Interior’s Population and Immigration Authority yesterday jailed a 58 year old woman ahead of her deportation, claiming she is not Jewish, despite the fact that the woman has lived her entire life as a Jew.

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Ministry of Interior refuses to allow African asylum seekers to enter the Bnei Brak Population Bureau to seek shelter from the rain.  Other people’s entrance to the building was not restricted, and the asylum seekers were told that there are different regulations for them.

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Two wardens from the Ministry of Interior’s Oz unit arrived at a kindergarten and arrested a five year old girl who was transferred to a detention facility with her mother in preparation for their deportation.

(Hebrew – Facebook)

The Ministry of Interior has been charging higher fees than those stipulated by law for processing freedom of information requests regarding family reunification requests by residents of East Jerusalem. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The State Comptroller’s Report on Local Councils found that the Interior Ministry-appointed council which has been running the municipality of Lod for the past 12 years has been ineffective at all levels of municipal activity and the city’s condition continues to deteriorate. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

According to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel’s (ACRI) annual report on the State of Human Rights in Israel and the OPT 2012, the Ministry of Interior’s procedure for granting asylum in Israel is inconsistent with international standards.  Furthermore, the procedure violates the right of claim of asylum seekers; asylum interviews are unfair, humiliating and threatening, and the research concerning the asylum seekers’ countries of origin is biased, selective and unprofessional.  In the two years in which the Ministry has been processing asylum requests, only a single person was recognized as a refugee, out of approximately 8,000 asylum reqeusts. (ACRI)

(Hebrew – ACRI)

The Ministry of Interior refuses to grant citizenship and passports to month old twins born to an Israeli couple following a surrogate prcedure in Georgia, despite a court order by the Ramat-Gan Family Court. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)