IDF reserve soldiers act on behalf of refugees
'Treatment of refugees reminded us of Holocaust,' writes group of reservists in letter to prime minister
"We were appalled to see how the Egyptian forces treated the refugees they had caught. The refugees were verbally and physically abused. These incidents occurred only 100-200 meters away from us, IDF soldiers, and we could do nothing to help them.
"The Israeli government applies pressure on Egypt to prevent anyone crossing the border, thereby contributing to the harsh treatment of the Egyptians towards the refugees," they stated.
Israeli hypocricy
They added that Israel's attitude was hypocritical: "We have always accused (western) countries for standing idly by during the Holocaust of the Jewish people…
"The State of Israel was founded after 2,000 years of exile; 2,000 years of persecution, humiliation and genocide. The Jewish nation is morally obligated to provide a solution, even if only temporarily, for those who suffer persecution today," the letter read.
And yet, it protested, Israel is "dodging its moral duty to help these distraught refugees.
"The act of capturing these poor people has nothing to do with defending the country. The problem of the Sudanese refugees is something that the State, and not its reserve soldiers, should provide legal, ethical and humanitarian solutions to," they noted.
The soldiers who initiated the letter emphasized that it was not an expression of insubordination of any sort, but an attempt to raise public awareness to the plight of the Sudanese, and follow the principles upon which the State of Israel was established.
"We slipped into Egypt to find wounded refugees"
Gilad, a 25 year old form Tel Aviv, is one of the soldiers who wrote the letter. He told Ynet: "We were shocked by the way the refugees were treated on the Egyptian side of the border.
"Once, following an incident of severe harassment, we secretly entered the Egyptian territory to check whether any of the refugees had been wounded by the Egyptian gunfire and to ensure that no one had been left behind."
The problem of the Sudanese refugees is well known, but until today, no one has devised a comprehensive solution to the problem and the various authorities toss the responsibility from one to the other.
The IDF estimates that 1,300 refugees have entered Israel through the Egyptian border since the beginning of the year.
The Southern Command is not responsible for handling people who do not have permits to stay in Israel or asylum seekers.
The immigration administration claims that it cannot take in the refugees as there are not enough beds in their detention facilities for them. In the meantime, the refugees' welfare is subject to the mercy of non-profit organizations.
"Israel, who is constantly criticized for its treatment of the Palestinians, has a chance to demonstrate its compassion to all human beings alike. Israel should be a light unto the nations in its treatment of the Sudanese refugees… We ask that the Israeli government find an immediate, suitable solution to the problem of the refugees from Sudan," the letter concludes.
Meretz MK Ran Cohen said in reaction to the publication in Ynet: "Reserve soldiers in the field understand through their straightforward intuition and human sensitivity, what the government refuses to grasp. The government remains unresponsive, and this insensitivity must not become policy. What we need is a bold course of action to strategically deal with the refugees. We, the Jewish state, more than anyone else, should be aware of such matters."
Cohen submitted the signatures of 40 MKs to Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, demanding a special plenum session with the prime minister. Consequently, Prime Minister Olmert will be required to discuss the matter before the plenum.
