Last weekend, violent protests broke out in front of the Eritrean embassy in Tel Aviv. At least 150 people – including dozens of police officers – were injured as opponents and supporters of the government of President Isaias Afewerki, who has ruled the country in an authoritarian manner since 1993, fought in the streets. Now the Israeli government wants to crack down and deport all Eritreans.
The riots have crossed “a red line,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. Now they want to take stricter action against migrants without a residence permit. “Rampage, bloodshed – this is a debauchery we cannot accept,” Netanyahu continued.
The government is going to work out a “deportation plan”.
The Israeli head of government called for the immediate expulsion of all migrants involved in the protests. In addition, the responsible ministers must “draw up a plan for the deportation of all illegal migrants”. The number of immigrants from Eritrea is estimated at about 18,000 people. Asylum applications are only granted in exceptional cases.
The cause of the bloody protests was a festival that was to be held on the embassy grounds. According to media reports, opposition groups had already threatened violence in advance if this event, which they say would glorify the “illegal regime”, actually happened. The situation escalated on Saturday. The demonstrators attacked participants and embassy staff with batons, tear gas and electric batons. Israeli security forces intervened and were also attacked.
Violence also in Germany, Sweden and Norway
Similar riots had recently taken place in Germany, Sweden and Norway. Since Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia about thirty years ago, President Afewerki has ruled the country with an interim government. Afewerki has recently been criticized internationally for committing serious human rights violations in the Ethiopian civil war with the Ethiopian central government until November 2022, according to various UN reports. In addition, many civil liberties in the country are largely restricted.
Source: Krone
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