Israel, a nation founded by Zionists after Nazi persecution was used to justify its creation, has stated that it will turn away refugees fleeing the genocide in Darfur. David Baker, an Israeli government spokesman said anyone entering illegally from Egypt will be returned to Egypt, and that only 500 refugees will be allowed to stay for humanitarian reasons. “The policy of returning back anyone who enters Israel illegally will pertain to everyone, including those from Darfur,” Baker said.

Israel’s typical hypocritical stance has sparked debate within the country. Eytan Schwartz, an advocate for Darfur refugees in Israel, said; “The state of Israel has to show compassion for refugees after the Jewish people was subject to persecution throughout its history.”

Egypt has stepped up efforts to prevent illegal migrants crossing its border into Israel, a source of tension between the two countries. Egyptian police shot at a group of African migrants trying to sneak into Israel in July, killing one woman and wounding four, including a child.

“We can blame them [the Sudanese refugees] but we should condemn the governments. Oppression and injustice made those people look for salvation even if it was in Israel,” Gamal Eid, head of Egypt’s Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, said.

Escaping persecution and injustice, more than 2,000 illegal migrants from Africa have entered Israel from Egypt over the past year. Israel has already handed over 48 Sudanese to Egyptian authorities. The Jewish state has also jailed dozens of refugees from Sudan simply because the state identifies the Sudanese as enemy nationals. 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes in Darfur since the conflict began.

source