Opinion
Refugees for sale
Alma Zohar
Published: 02.11.10, 11:11
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1. Get over yourself Zohar, Australia and other countries do it
Doron Katz ,   Sydney, Australia   (11.02.10)
2. I think the anti-Netanyahu campaign has started again.
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (11.02.10)
To give credit where credit is due, Haaretz started off the current anti-Netanyahu campaign. Leftists are gearing up for a major assault on Netanyahu. This has nothing at all to do with the issues written about, pretty much, anything is a good pretext. The real reason has to do with the American Congressional elections which take place today. Although the Democrats will take a real beating here & certainly lose control of the House, maybe even the Senate, this mostly affects Obama's domestic agenda. In foreign policy, the president still has a lot of power. Since his domestic agenda will be blocked, many expect him to concentrate on foreign policy. Obama's foreign policy is an even bigger failure than his domestic policies. But our Leftists, always ready to betray their own country, are hoping Obama will cause the downfall of the Netanyahu coalition. Our oh-so-patriotic Left only cares about their insane agenda & count on Obama to force Israel to committ suicide, at the very least, make concession after concession. So, this article is not really about Africans or refugees, that's just the camouflage, a pretext. I'm no fan of Netanyahu but I think there's something seriously wrong with a foreign leader interfering in our politics. And, there is something even more seriously wrong with those who collude in this interference to further their own agenda. Here we have, as usual, a small but vocal undemocratic minority of extremists hoping to undermine our own gov't. to further the agenda of a foreign leader. This is unacceptable, abhorent, & treasonous.
3. Palestinians would not sell the "Israelis" to any one,
Salma ,   Palestine   (11.02.10)
Unfortunately any one would not accept to buy them : (
4. #3 haha so funny
(11.02.10)
as if anyone would want you
5. Nice picture....
Edgar ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (11.02.10)
That's a nice picture of the little kids....how about some pictures of the drunk, drugged-out, and violent hordes of "refugees" that have taken over south Tel Aviv. Have you guys ever walked anywhere near the old central bus station in the past year? The whole of South Tel Aviv is starting to look like some Rawanda or any other African hellhole. These people are destroying our city.
6. Guilt trip par excellence!
Cameron ,   USA   (11.02.10)
How unreasonable that Israelis wish to avoid running their country straight into the ground in the name of "compassion", eh Miss Zohar? Perish the thought that they should recognize there are truly serious limits on just how much fiscal & social stress a country, especially a small one in terms of geography and population, can realistically accomodate. Can any state in the 21st century remain a healthy, prosperous structure by allowing itself to be transformed into an endless dumping ground for the unfortunate of the globe?
7. Why not ask Desmond Tutu?
Raphael ,   Netanya   (11.02.10)
Depicting Israel as an apartheid country should incite him to give shelter in South Africa to his persecuted brethren. If he rejects this proposal, it will be definitely an evidence of his (and other humanrightniks') hypocrisy.
8. To Terry #2
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (11.02.10)
I suspect that after today, Mr. O will be so busy trying to salvage what's left of his hide domestically, Israel will not be at the top of any of his lists.
9. 20,000 Refugees?
Ariella ,   Jerusalem   (11.02.10)
Dear Ms. Zohar, I dont know where you are getting your stats from but I think that before you write your next article damning Netanyahu, Israel or anyone else, for that matter, it might do you some good to properly research your sources. Go back to your "little bubble" and tell some of your idiot friends about this rubbish - please dont sport with our intelligence - anyone with half a brain knows that the Refugee situation, though extremely sad, should not be a reason to run Israel into ecxtinction. We have plenty around who are willing to do that for us.
10. bla bla bla - im authorize you to build a stete that..
gili ,   israel   (11.02.10)
will any citiven in the world could get to your free country with free food and crime and forth and forth. if the citizen will wish that, you welcome him for free entrance. in addition, i'm authorize you to be the prime minister of this country.
11. Absurd!
nadav ,   tlv   (11.02.10)
rarely have I read such a ridiculous, disingenuous article! Does he author even know what she is talking about?!
12. Terry #2 - Well said!
Marcella   (11.02.10)
13. To: Edgar at No. 5
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (11.02.10)
Amen. So true.
14. treasonous?
Leon ,   USA   (11.02.10)
So the question back to you is that since all the major Jewish groups in the US are working against Obama and the democratic party in these elections would you call these jewish groups " vocal undemocratic minority of extremists hoping to undermine our own gov't. to further the agenda of a foreign leader (Netanyaho). This is unacceptable, abhorent, & treasonous" ? Or is it different ?
15. Refugees should go back
S_B ,   Spain   (11.02.10)
I think, it is not only about 20.000 refugees. If Israeli government shows some tolerance and excepts to keep them, there will be many more refugees from all around. Africa is a continent with full of wars and genocides. Already Israel is a tiny country with a small population, the demography of the country will change dramatically in fifty years or so if Israel keeps on accepting all those refugees. Why don't England and France get their hands on this issue and help those refugees? After all, that African continent is in conflict is thanks to their centuries-long colonizations and exploitations!
16. there are more africans coming each month than olim
zionist forever   (11.02.10)
There are 1200 Africans coming over every month, some refugees some looking for a better life. Israel is a country of 7 million at a rate of 1200 a month it won't take long for them to become a substantial part of the population. There are not even 1200 olim coming every month. Lets also not forget the refugee problem won't end with this lot if Israel continues to take in anybody that calls themselves refugees then everybody looking for the good life will come to Israel where they cn be assured they will be allowed to stay. There is also the economic issue. Its hard enough absorbing jews financially but to take in the foreign labourers because they have children, the Africans and anybody else who decides they want to come we will not be able to afford it. Job shortage, schools overcrowded, more strain on the social services, increased crime. Who do we give first priority to Unskilled outsiders wanting to move to Israel or Israeli citizens? As long as these Africans are sent to a country where their lives will not be endanger then we should not have to worry about deporting them. We must not let the Holocaust decide how we deal with refugees and economic migrants. Long term a regional soultion must be found.] If Obama and his UN buddies want to do something useful why not look to create a regional refugee solution. Not as high profile as palestinians and won't bring him any legacies but it will at least be useful. Until along term solution is found israel should deport refugees & economic migrants and not hide the fact its deporting them send a message we won't just take you in because you crossed our border illegally and you would like to live in Israel.
17. Illegal migrants
Moshe ,   T/A Israel   (11.02.10)
There is no doubt that the 1000 per month are not turning up at our borders because they have all fallen in love with Israel. There is no doubt that a few phone calls are made when they get here and the rest of the crew then follow. We must seem like dimwits to them, let them in let them do as they want go where they want, argue over them, feed them and of course give them shelter. We then have the lovely sight of more and more coming and as they lady said it is only "20,000" (already) where will it end,she of course did not answer that, will it end (with dim wits like us why should it end?) Moshe (slightly irate)
18. They are not Israel's problem
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (11.02.10)
They are the United Nations' problem. Specifically, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Yes, there are refugees who are not -- gasp -- "Palestinian" (amazing, isn't it?) and that the United Nations pretty much ignores. It's high time the UNHCR were forced to do its job.
19. To: No. 14
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (11.02.10)
It is very different. The Jewish population in the United States is comprised of highly educated professionals who are well integrated into the social fabric of the country and are contributing members of society. They are not illegal aliens leeching off the hard work of others. Duh. Tell me, though -- how would you characterize the activities of the Irish Americans in Boston who supported the provisional IRA when most of the rest of the world viewed them as terrorists? Was that abhorrent and treasonous?
20. Mindless drivel
Tahl ,   Ashdod   (11.02.10)
Alma Zohar apparently does not let basic facts get in the way of her wonderful guilt-trip. "millions of dollars, which could have been invested in assisting shelter seekers instead of kicking them out" - Which would no doubt attract more and more and more African migrants over here, until we would collapse socially and economically. Kicking out the migrants, on the other hand, sends an effective deterrent against the idea of coming here. "I wish such despicable acts would shake up anybody here." - Wake up! All Western countries treat illegal migrants similarly. And you don't see bleeding-heart idiots from media over there complaining like we see here. "Had we seen what the future holds, we would have been spared the current chaos, and all sorts of bleeding hearts and human rights groups would not have any qualms with us." - But these are not refugees. These are work migrants. You even admitted it yourself. "the demographic threat faced by Israel ... does not stem from the presence of two million Palestinians" - Actually it's more like 4 million, which is a BIG threat, and that is why nearly everybody, even Lieberman, supports a two-state solution. "or the 120,000 foreign workers approved by the Netanyahu government this past year alone." - Indeed there is no demographic threat here. These are TEMPORARY workers who would leave the country after their work visa expires. "The demographic threat, gentlemen, is the 20,000 African shelter seekers" Yes. Because these people are here to stay, and more and more of them are coming. Southern Tel Aviv, Eilat and Arad are a signal of what's coming for all of Israel if this tide doesn't stop. "And we really don’t want work migrants here. That is, we actually do want work migrants, but not these ones, but rather, ones that come from more distant lands and show higher standards of hygiene. And no, this has nothing to do with skin color! " - What stupid demagoguery. First, there are plenty of African workders here who came in legally, with a valid temporary working visa. Whereas these Sudenese people are here to stay. Second, like any Western country, we only let in a certain quota of work migrants who fit our work needs. We can't absorb everybody who wants to come here - that would be suicide. And third, Edgar's post at #5 sums up nicely the effect of these lovely people on our towns. "what’s more humane than to return Africans to Africa?" And why should the fact that their home countries are a mess, be our responsibility? But you know what Alma? I have an idea. If this bothers you so much, why don't we take in as many of those oppressed and tormented Africans in as we can, all in the name of humanity. We'll just put all the expenses under your tab, and send them all to live in your own neighborhood. What do you say? "On second thought, why stop there? ... sell the Palestinians to the Africans too, and then the leftists, and maybe even the intellectuals and dissidents..." - Sounds like an excellent idea to me. (editors, 2nd attempt)
21. Refugees
Nili   (11.02.10)
Why do you only show pictures of children? How about Tel Aviv by the bus station, and Now you can get similar results right here in Jerusalem. My beautiful neighborhood is turning into a dump--I can no longer leave my flat after dark and even during the day I run a gauntlet just to get to my bus. These are not helpless refugees. They are mean, sullen, rude and taunting. Theft is up, it is no longer safe. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
22. The article begins with a lie. So why read it?
michael redbourn ,   Arad - Israel   (11.02.10)
I got two paragraph two .. "For years now, Israel has been unable to come up with even one shekel to buy medicine for a sick African boy". and gave up! It's a flagrant lie .. http://www.israaid.org.il/ I found the above link in seconds. And Israel does far far more in Africa and is presently helping with agriculture in a big big way. Why are leftists so blind to the truth and distort it with impunity? They really appear to be mentally sick!
23. To #20 Tahl
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (11.02.10)
If I pay for their airline tickets to Israel, will you include some of my favorites in one bunch or the other??? I don't care which one, where they'll end up or how much you'll get for them. Just get them out of my hair :-)
24. well if Israel doesn't do something
(11.02.10)
they end up like Europe in the next 20 or 30 years, Europe took in the 70's those Morrocans and Turks to do the dirty work for the proud Europeans, they didn't intergrate, they are low educated, most of them fall into the criminal circuit and they are already the 3rd generation....with the Sudanese it will be the same, I believe they are also Muslim....send them back to Egypt where they probably will be killed, but no European country will give them Political Assylum, things have changed in Europe....so israel is stuck with them....build a real border between Egypt and Israel, coz more will come and they don't want to stay in Egypt!!!! Israel wake up, start to look into the future and not only in the moment....
25. Build the Sinai fence and build it now!
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (11.02.10)
26. # 20 Tahl, well done!
Yochanan ,   Galut for now..   (11.02.10)
27. Just another attack on Israeli soverignty
BH ,   Iowa   (11.03.10)
Of course everyone *else* has the right to control their immigration.
28. You undoubtedly have a big heart, but
Elad Lending ,   Yahel, Israel   (11.03.10)
your naivete is truly staggering. To address only one of your points, I say, yes these illegal aliens are work-seekers, not political refugees. True, many of them probably were political refugees when they left Sudan or Eritrea, but surely they could not jump over Egypt on their way here, right? When they left Egypt for Israel, they ceased being political refugees and began seeking economic opportunity. Surely the authorities have the right and obligation to determine the number and manner of bringing foreign workers to Israel, and, once here to protect them and make available medical care. The borders must be sealed, and immediately. The situation in Eilat, for example, is completely out of control and dangerous. It has absolutely nothing to do with racism, and shame on you for saying so.
29. They have to go through Egypt in order to reach Israel
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (11.03.10)
In order to get to Israel, African "asylum seekers" have to pass through one or more other countries. Once the Sudanese reach Egypt, they are no longer "asylum seekers" because they have already found safety. Sneaking into Israel is an economic move, not a political one. Why is nobody slamming Egypt for not accepting these people? They have lots more room in their country than Israel.
30. Why is this so surprising?
Marlene N. ,   New York City   (11.03.10)
If Israel expelled most of the indigenous people of the land, why would they want to keep people from another land who did not meet the racist criteria of who is Jewish. In this case though, it's costing money wheeas in the case of the Palestinians, they were just booted out. of thier homes and lands.
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