"You shall not turn over a slave who seeks refuge with you. He shall live with you in any place he may choose, within one of your gates. You must not mistreat him" - Deuteronomy 23:16-17.
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In the NewsAugust 17, 2016
Within the past several weeks, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman made the decision to cancel soldiers' volunteering activities with children of asylum seekers. His decision was due to pressure from right-wing activists, as well as his idea that soldiers should not volunteer with a population "not residing [in Israel] lawfully." Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon was quick to criticize his successor stating that "it is our obligation to assist the weak and needy in our society." Ya'alon went on to say that "it is a pity" national leadership is trying to divide Israeli society. Despite Lieberman's decision, an IDF unit still requested to volunteer with the children. For the full news story, Click Here July 21, 2016
Haaretz reports that nearly 15,000 asylum requests are still pending in Israel with some asylum seekers still waiting for an answer after six years or more. Despite having appointed a panel to address asylum requests in March, the government has not made any changes in either the pace or the method of examining these requests. In fact, the panel has rejected 1,090 requests since March, many on the basis that they had been filed belatedly. The only request that was approved this year was that of Mutasim Ali from Darfur, who is a leader of the asylum seeker community in Israel. He was granted refugee status after four years of a highly publicized legal campaign. We encourage the government to implement a fair and effective Refugee Status Determination Process. For the full news story, Click Here |
Who We Are
Right Now is an international coalition of Jews and allies advocating for the rights of African asylum seekers in Israel through awareness-raising, direct advocacy, and grassroots campaigns.
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Policy Recommendations
Right Now asks Israel to develop an asylum process consistent with the Refugee Convention, one that would respect the dignity of asylum seekers, protect their human rights, and facilitate meaningful and impartial determinations of refugee status by the government of Israel.
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Cover photo by Ellen Livingston
