There are an estimated 61\,000 African foreign nationals cur
rently living in Israel. The burden of absorbing the many asylum seekers f
rom conflict-ridden countries has fallen on those living on Israel's socia
l periphery—around 40\,000 live in the poorer neighborhoods of South Tel
Aviv alone. Israel does not grant asylum seekers work permits or other we
lfare benefits\, and does not have clear policies relating to this growing
population\, creating a greater burden on the communities in which they l
ive.
Israeli society faces both a practical and ethical conu
ndrum. Media headlines in recent weeks describe riots in South Tel Aviv against Africans
and African-owned businesses\, members of Knesset denouncing undocumented
African migrants as a “cancer” in Israeli soc
iety\, and the Israeli government’s efforts to repatriate hu
ndreds of migrants to conflict-ridden countries. The New Israel Fund c
ommunity is taking action in Israel\, and
the American Jewish community is speaking out.
Hear from NIF flagship grantee the Association for Civil Rights in Israel about these complex issues fac
ing Israel\, the roots of the disturbing riots\, and what is being done to
protect African migrants and asylum seekers in Israel.