Thousands of African migrants protest outside Israeli parliament
Reuters
2014-01-08
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Thousands of African migrants gather in front of Israel's parliament Wednesday demanding recognition and protesting against a new open-ended detention law.
Three weeks ago Israel's parliament approved the law permitting authorities to detain migrants without valid visas indefinitely.
Critics call it a violation of human rights.
The migrants want to be recognized as asylum-seekers.
Israel considers most African migrants as economic migrants, and labels them 'infiltrators.'
Some 60,000 migrants, largely from Eritrea and Sudan, have crossed into Israel since 2006. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he views the presence of many of the Africans as a threat to Israel's Jewish social fabric.
Three weeks ago Israel's parliament approved the law permitting authorities to detain migrants without valid visas indefinitely.
Critics call it a violation of human rights.
The migrants want to be recognized as asylum-seekers.
Israel considers most African migrants as economic migrants, and labels them 'infiltrators.'
Some 60,000 migrants, largely from Eritrea and Sudan, have crossed into Israel since 2006. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he views the presence of many of the Africans as a threat to Israel's Jewish social fabric.
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