Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended a deal struck with the United Nations refugee agency to resettle or give residency to thousands of African asylum seekers, just hours after news of the plan was made public.
Under the five-year deal, around 16,000 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers currently in Israel who were facing prison or deportation would have been sent to countries including Germany, Italy and Canada.
Netanyahu had earlier announced that for every one of those that were resettled in the West, Israel would grant one asylum seeker “temporary residency”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Netanyahu faced strong criticism from “anti-migrant groups in southern Tel Aviv and powerful politicians in his own governing coalition”, says the BBC, leading him to rethink the deal.
Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett warned that the new UN deal would “turn Israel into a paradise for infiltrators”.
Both Italy and Germany said they were “unaware of any such resettlement deal”, says The Guardian, which has added to the confusion.
The UN deal was intended to replace a controversial plan that had resulted in the forced deportation of asylum seekers to African countries including Rwanda and Uganda.
It was halted by the Supreme Court, says The Times of Israel, after asylum seekers who had been deported said they were facing “serious danger and even imprisonment after arriving in Africa without proper documents”.
-
The pros and cons of having more than one credit cardPros and Cons Having more than one card can offer financial benefits — but be careful of overspending
-
How to determine the right car for your needsthe explainer Assess your budget, driving habits and fuel costs
-
How to save on tickets to concerts and other eventsThe Explainer See your favorite artist without breaking the bank
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s planSpeed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace planSpeed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Israel and the Gaza flotillaThe Explainer Activists fear loss of life after blaming Israel for drone attacks on ships
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
What would happen if Israel lost America’s support?Today’s big question Loss of US backing could be a ‘catastrophe’ for Israel
-
Gaza genocide: will UN ruling change anything?Today's Big Question Commission of inquiry’s findings ‘give unprecedented weight’ to genocide claims
-
Why ‘anti-Islam’ bikers are guarding Gaza aid sitesIn The Spotlight Members of Infidels MC, who regard themselves as modern Crusaders, among private security guards at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites
