Thousands of Sudanese asylum seekers – most have been in Israel for years – hold no-benefit visas and live in slums or detention centers. Interior Minister Arye Dery has decided to keep them that way, at least until after the elections in April.
As Congress tackles urgent issues of reopening government and setting the budget for the country, it takes the time to prioritize a foreign country: H.R.648 contains assurances that Israel will receive $3.8 billion for arms, and funding for refugee resettlement; the bill also includes threats to de-fund the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and any future state of Palestine–if US demands (dictated by the Israel lobby) are not met.
Netanyahu is poised to deport 38,000 African refugees, claiming they are merely “infiltrators.” Some agree; others want a more compassionate approach – one that says, “never again means never again.” And what is the next logical step?