Uganda

African asylum seekers are seen upon release from 'Saharonim' prison in the Negev desert, Southern Israel, April 15, 2018. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Safe from deportations, asylum seekers in Israel still living in fear

2018 began with the Israeli government attempting to deport 35,000 asylum seekers to countries where they would face persecution and possible death. The tireless work of activists stopped the government in its tracks — yet asylum seekers in Israel continue to face an uncertain future.

By Oren Ziv December 30, 2018

Asylum seekers released from Saharonim after Israel failed to present a new agreement that permits their deportation to Uganda. April 15, 2018. (Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)

Israel scraps plan to forcibly deport African asylum seekers

After failing to reach an agreement with a ‘third country,’ Israel announces that its plan to deport tens of thousands of African asylum seekers has collapsed. +972 Magazine Staff The Israeli government informed the High Court Tuesday that its plan to forcibly deport tens of thousands of African asylum seekers has collapsed, after failing to broker a deal with…

By +972 Magazine April 24, 2018

Asylum seekers released from Saharonim after Israel failed to present a new agreement that permits their deportation to Uganda. April 15, 2018. (Oren Ziv / Activestills.org)

In another blow to deportation plan, Israel frees jailed asylum seekers

Israel frees 200 asylum seekers imprisoned for refusing deportation after the government admits there is no secret agreement with Uganda that allows for the mass deportation of refugees. Israel released 207 Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers on Sunday, all of whom had been indefinitely imprisoned for refusing deportation to Uganda or Rwanda. Israel’s High Court…

By Joshua Leifer April 15, 2018

Latest

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara depart Uganda on their way to Kenya, July 4, 2016. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

Israel’s top court sanctions support for Africa’s dictators

By approving the decision to deport African asylum seekers to Rwanda and Uganda, Israel has granted legitimacy to two of the most brutal dictators on the continent. By Eitay Mack (translated by Ofer Neiman) The Israeli Supreme Court approved the decision to deport African asylum seekers from Israel. These agreements had previously been made between Israel and…

By +972 Magazine September 12, 2017

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mrs Sara Netanyahu depart for Uganda from Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, July 4, 2016. (Kobi Gideon / GPO)

Netanyahu’s Africa tour: A spit in the face of those Israel helps oppress

The Israeli public and its government need to internalize that ‘Israel’s pride,’ its wildly successful military export industry, has been an unending nightmare for the people of Africa. How can Netanyahu look the Rwandan and Ugandan people in the eyes? By Itay Mack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently on a tour of African states…

By +972 Magazine July 6, 2016

IDF soldiers walk through Hebron. (photo: Activestills)

Are IDF intelligence vets helping Uganda hunt down LGBTs?

An investigative report reveals that an Israeli company is involved in supplying spyware to the Ugandan government, which is being used for the persecution of LGBT activists in the country. By Tanya Rubinstein In Uganda today, homosexual relations are illegal. Ugandan legislators are trying to make LGBT activities illegal, including LGBT organizations themselves. Activists are…

By Haokets September 6, 2015

African asylum seekers arrive at Israel’s Holot detention facility in the Negev desert, February 18, 2014. (Photo: Activestills.org) Israel’s High Court has twice struck down the law allowing the indefinite detention of asylum seekers.

Asylum seeker who left Israel: ‘I believed them when they said I could stay in Uganda’

The following is a redacted version of an affidavit that was attached to a petition filed by Israeli human rights NGOs and the Tel Aviv University Refugee Rights’ Clinic against the recently announced policy of indefinitely incarcerating Eritrean and Sudanese asylum-seekers who refuse to leave Israel for Rwanda or Uganda. Under a new policy announced on…

By +972 Magazine June 10, 2015

African asylum seekers walking towards the March For Freedom camp, Negev Desert, June 28, 2014. (Photo by Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)

Uganda denies agreement with Israel on asylum seekers

The Ugandan government officially denies claims it has signed an agreement with Israel, whereby it would absorb forcefully deported Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers. The Israeli government has resisted calls to divulge the details of the agreements it had allegedly signed with ‘third countries.’ Government officials in Uganda deny there is any agreement with Israel…

By Mairav Zonszein April 29, 2015