March for Freedom

African asylum seekers jailed in Holot detention center protest behind the prison's fence, as other asylum seekers take part in a protest outside the facility, in Israel's southern Negev desert, February 17, 2014.

PHOTOS: 24 hours outside Holot ‘open’ detention center

African asylum seekers converge on the Holot ‘open’ detention center to demand the release of those held there, and call for a comprehensive solution for their community. Photos and text by: Yotam Ronen, Oren Ziv and Tali Mayer/Activestills.org African asylum seekers from different cities in Israel held a two-day protest outside Holot detention center in the…

By Activestills February 18, 2014

African Asylum seekers march out of the Holot ‘open prison,’ where they were being held, and march along the highway from Beer Sheva in southern Israel on their way to Jerusalem, December 16, 2013. (Photo: Activestills.org)

The origins and politics of Israel’s refugee debate

An in-depth look at the historical and political developments that shaped Israel’s current African asylum-seeker crisis — and one way to resolve it that meets Israel’s own needs while doing right by those who most need its protection. African asylum seekers in Israel have brought their struggle into the limelight in recent weeks. Through acts…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man January 28, 2014

Asylum seekers with hands crossed in the air on streets of Tel Aviv (Yotam Ronen / Activestills)

Prison break: African asylum seekers claim their place on the Israeli political map

In Israel’s most vibrant demonstration ever to take place on the refugee issue, and in two bold escapes from an ‘open prison,’ African asylum seekers are starting to present themselves as a political force to be reckoned with. Saturday night was something like no one in Israel had ever seen before. It was supposed to…

By Haggai Matar December 24, 2013

Latest

African asylum seeker getting arrested after marching during a second March For Freedom, from Holot detention centre towards Beer Sheva, Negev, December 19, 2013. (Activestills.org)

PHOTOS: Second ‘march for freedom’

For the second time this week, 130 asylum seekers leave the Holot ‘open’ prison facility in southern Israel to march through the desert in protest of their detention and the arrest of their comrades in the previous march. This time around, immigration officers stopped the march shortly after it began. Photos By: Oren Ziv, Tali Mayer / Activestills.org…

By Activestills December 19, 2013

An asylum seeker detained by immigration police during the second "March for Freedom." (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Immigration officers arrest asylum seekers on second ‘March for Freedom’

For the second time this week, 130 asylum seekers leave the Holot ‘open’ prison facility in southern Israel, march through the desert in an attempt to move their demonstration to a major city. This time around, immigration officers stopped the march shortly after it began. The asylum seekers are protesting their detention conditions and the arrest of…

By Haggai Matar December 19, 2013

Asylum seekers reach Jerusalem after deserting from an 'open prison' facility in the Negev and marching to demand their freedom, December 17, 2013. (Photo: Activestills.org)

Police arrest asylum seekers who left ‘open prison,’ marched to J’lem

More than 150 African asylum seekers who deserted from an ‘open prison’ facility reach Jerusalem and are joined by supporters in a first-of-its-kind protest. Police and immigration authorities arrest them all and put them on buses back to prison. Update (4:15 p.m.): Police and immigration authorities detained all of the Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers…

By Haggai Matar December 17, 2013