Israel as a Jewish state does also. Maybe the politicians dont, but that doesnt mean Israel and Israelis dont. As for whom to treat and whom not too, Yes, its difficult when you are at war with another nation. That doesnt mean to forget human rights, but it also doesnt mean to forget that the other nation is at war with you and in many cases trying to exterminate you. It means to be vigilant but helpful. Treat enemies appropriately. Treat the needy appropriately too. Judaism is wonderful and teaches us how to live life and help others through Tikkun Olam .

We are no longer better than our enemies.

I would gladly focus resources meant at dealing with Palestinian terrorists to help these refugees. However, reality is a stark mistress and right now Israel is pretty stretched, both geographically, financially, and emotionally. As a professional in the healthcare field, I really don't expect many Israeli doctors to think twice about this law when they see someone in need, be he Jew, Palestinian, or a Sudanese refugee. Unfortunately, this law mimics that in the US which forbids even a stranger aiding an illegal Mexican immigrant with a bottle of water. It's certainly not the right approach, but neither is Egypt's routine shooting in the back of refugees in the Sinai, nor the West's ignorance of the problem when they DO have the money and land to help, but choose to focus on Palestinians instead.

we should allow them in israel as long as they convert. We are low in numbers because of our conversion policies. Lets let a couple 100k in and make them jews, it would diversify the gene pool and make us have a better basketball team.

While humane treatment of refugees is vital, the fact is that these '''refugees'''' are muslim and will then become a future issue when they all decide they are Palestinian after marrying local muslims through arranged marriage living off welfare and whathaveyou, that has happened in France, in Canada with all the muslim refugees accepted here, and elsewhere.... temporary status should be just that, JAPAN DOESN'T ACCEPT NON JAPANESE, SO WHY IS ISRAEL DISHONORABLE WHEN IT HAS THE SAME STANDARD

To an extent, I understand what some might term a growing callousness toward "refugees", but reject the characterization. On the one hand, Israelis see a world that couldn't care less about Jewish refugees, whether from Europe during the Shoah or from Arab lands. On the other, when Israel *does* accept refugees, it only invites more and the problems they bring. Israel certainly does much more to aid those suffering overseas than other countries its size. It's also proven more lenient with the thousands of African refugees it's received in recent years than any of its neighbors, but that's only invited yet more thousands than the government has figured out how to handle. The UN's HCR, which should be helping, essentially considers them Israel's problem. Rather than ask why Israelis are so callous toward non-Jewish refugees, he should consider how the problem can be managed without turning Israel, which has enough to deal with, into the default refuge for a continent of failed states.

In the words of the Lubavitcher Rebbe speaking to an American assimilated Jew (like you), when he aked about helping goyim, "There are 350,000,000 goyim to help each other, but no one will help a Jew except another Jew!". Why are you so worried about goyim?

only a small part of them is an actual sudanese refugees all the rest are work immigrants who flood the country with crime and violence

..an other one killed with a knife a russian tourist in Eilat. So we don' t want them !

Gal claims "Few of us know that during a period of 58 years, Israel let in only about 150 refugees ". Bah humbug. I don't know what the numbers really are, but it's a fact that Israel let in 200 Vietnamese boat people, and thus it's obvious that Gal is blowing hot air. It casts doubt on his other "facts" and detracts from the point he's trying to make. Yes, Israel should do better with refugees. Yes, this is a very stupid, asinine piece of legislation that should be thrown out. But Gal also ignores the reality that thousands of African refugees are indeed living in Israel already. Yes we should do more, but sorry, Dr. Gal should get his facts straight to make his argument more tenable.

In France, such an African refugee's son, Yussuf Fofana, abducted a jewish youngster, tried to take a ransom from his family, tortured him during 24 days shouting antisemitic insults, slashed his throat, and finally burnt him alive, as a revenge for the "Gaza genocide". By respecting african refugees' human rights we will earn their gratitude.

Please read yesterdays article on the rape of a six year old, and the related talkbacks. Then answer two questions: Why are all these uncultured arrivals warehoused in towns far far from the homed of the bleeding heart do gooders? Why is it that when gifted doctors stray from medicine and pontificate in matters not their own, they seem like the stupidest organism this side of yeast cells.

Israel is a small country. If it takes in great numbers of non-Jewish refugees it will change the character of Israel when these refugees will easily become a majority in a couple of decades. Once Israel is not a Jewish state any longer these majority refugees, by now them and their descendants full Israeli citizens, will become like the rest of the countries of the world and will vote to stop taking in any more refugees, especially from countries their forefathers have no connection to. All the above is in addition to the new tragedy caused to the Jewish people who will again become stateless

israel is a jewish only country not a muslim countrylet them go to the arab countrys were they should be

Why do these refugees choose to come to Israel? They are not Jewish, they are not positively disposed to Israel and they only come because no one else will have them; no one else will help them. But it is perfectly alright to say that we don't want them, either. There is a United Nations organization specifically devoted to the care and feeding of refugees -- UNRWA. Let them go there. If the United Nations isn't doing its job, it is not Israel's problem to absorb these refugees. The UNRWA has plenty of funding, of which 90% is spent on Palestinian refugees (despite the fact that the worst refugee problems are in black Africa). Again, not Israel's problem. Israel should devote its resources to the care and feeding of Jewish poor and Jewish refugees (of which there is no shortage). Let the rest of the world deal with the Sudanese, Eritreans, and all the other ones who find their way to Israel. Perhaps the world will finally then sit up and take notice of the gross pre-occupation the UNRWA has for Palestinians and demand accountability from the United Nations.

Modern Israel is the combination of first world technology with third world morals. It demands the world's sympathy but offers none of its own. Selfishness, hypocrisy, arrogance: thy name is Israel!

Perhaps the time has come to begin a sanctuary movement in Israel. Like in the US when the Government pursued refugees from Central America.

Israel provides more assistance to refugees than any other comparable country. Does Mr Gal want Israel to absorb the entire 40 million population of Sudan? What Israel should do is respect the human rights of Jews. Today the "High Court of Justice" ordered the destruction of the home of the widow and orphans of war hero Roy Klein. This decision is one of the greatest crimes to human rights that Israel has ever commited.

Nice sentiments, but Israel is just not to accept every African refugee. There are Muslim countries with vast open spaces. Ilan Gal is probably also in favor of "Land for Peace" and making Israel even smaller than it already is, so how does he expect to fit all of Africa into tiny Israel?

Israel has admirably helped many thousands of African refugees, and owes nobody any apologies. No law is stopping Dr. Gal from treating refugee patients for free and at his own expense, but he is not free to bill the State for his expensive services. African refugees have no more right to enter Israel illegally and steal taxpayer-paid health services than they have a right to break into Dr. Gal's flat and steal money from his wife's purse. Illegal entry is the ultimate anti-state racism and disrespect for a nation's people. Israel should not make the same mistake the US made with illegal aliens now looting our economy of taxpayer dollars. And do note our massive fence just built on the Mexican border, even as our hypocritical State Dept. arabists whine about Israel's much smaller fence. Israel's taxpayer-funded health services are for ISRAELIS and those who enter Israel legally. As it should be. Israel is the homeland and national refuge of the Jews, not a mini USA. Let Mr. Obama send 1st-class plane tickets to bring these African refugees (from muslim tyrany) to America, which is exactly our national purpose here. Or is he too busy worrying about some new apartments in Kfar Etzion and Maale Adumim to be bothered?

are the responsibility of the UNRWA. Perhaps the UNRWA can turn away from Palestinian refugees long enough to worry about the nearly 300 million people on the African continent who are refugees. These people -- however desperate their plight -- are not the responsibility of Israel. That's what the United Nations Relief Works Agency is for. The UNRWA needs to do its job; they certainly have a huge enough budget. These refugees have no connection to the State of Israel, and do not belong there. They are not Jewish. They are properly the problem of the United Nations and its huge budget -- not Israel.

and they stay with our family in NY. My husband coudn't be happier. Why this writed woudn't tryu to adopt this women or at least give her a monthly allowance out of his fat salary. Even our family ( I am a struggling actor and my husband is a student) can afford to help Palestinians and others.

I personally donate $300 to good couses. How much do you send to those poor people? Many times I wonder why so many American Jews fail to support Muslim charities.

Not our problem! Let someone else take care of them! They are all rapists! Hatred, bigotry, xenophobia are not traits that wear attractively. Jews know better than this. We have been on the receiving end of similiar attitudes for centuries. Have you looked into the eyes of these people? I have, and do. I am one of the Physicians who care for these people. And that is exactly who they are. People. Good ones, bad ones, tall, short, you name it. It is our responsibility to care for those, who can't help themselves. To provide comfort, care and hope for those who have none. I ask those who are MOST opposed to helping, to volunteer, just one hour, once, and see if your thinking doesn't change. And, if it does not, maybe you need to look closely, very closely in the mirror.

Does it mean anything to anybody here? All the arguments above are meaningless. Last time I checked a doctor has to treat EVERYBODY even a mass murderer. "I will apply dietic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice."

but economic migrants seeking a better life (which you can not blame them for trying). That is why there is such a problem. Real refugees have protection but that will most likely never be given citizenship in Israel, Israel is not like the US, children born here from non citizens are not granted automatic citizenship (this applies to everyone), but it will get them resident rights as refugees and medical.

The believing world, in other words, most of humanity, has special expectations of the Jewish nation and its representative - the State of Israel. Almost everyone understands that the Nation of the Bible represents a holy and ethical way of life and they are curious to see which direction we will take. http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/2009/07/israel-and-darfur-refugees-by-moshe.html#links