'Hatikva' – refugee style

An online campaign launched Tuesday features a chilling version of "Hatikva" sung by a group of Sudanese woman. The campaign calls on citizens to sign a petition addressed to the Interior Minister asking him not to deport the refugees.

The campaign is a joint project of Amnesty International – Israel Section and a local advertising agency, and is another step in the continuous struggle to find a suitable solution to the refugee problem.

Following the decision to transfer hundreds of refugees to the Ktziot jail and from there deport them to Egypt, aid organizations are stepping up their efforts. Amnesty International was joined by the Hotline for Migrant Workers, Physicians for Human Rights and ASAF. All ask for the public's support.

"In the past decades we have witnessed the government's 'non-policy' policy in regards to the refugees," said Ilan Lunai who leads the campaign. "The Sudanese who escaped their country are entitled for fair treatment and the government is responsible to hear their individual stories and determine their eligibility to receive asylum."

Rom Levkovitch, the spokesman of Hotline for Migrant Workers, said: "We hope the campaign will encourage the Israeli public to take a stand."

To sign the petition (Hebrew) – click here