STOP the violence and mistreatment of Eritrean refugees in Israel

Mr. Shimon Peres. President of the State of Israel,
and
Mr. Benyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel,

We're writing to you because the Eritrean community in the diaspora have seen alarming increases in the discriminatory treatment of Eritrean refugees in Israel. Such senseless hate fuelled in part by right wing politicians has led to Eritreans being attacked on the street and in their homes. Eritreans today are living in a general climate of fear in Israel. This has been further compounded by threats of deportation and the proposal to forcibly transfer them to a tent detention centre which will be the largest of its kind in the world once the construction has been completed.

The proposal is to hold them in such facilities for 3 years and if they can't be deported then they will be held indefinitely. Eli Yishai, the interior minister said it was "To Make Their Lives Miserable!"

It is imperative that Israel comply with the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, which it became a signatory to in 1954. We strongly urge the Israeli government to implement the following with urgency:

• Develop a fair Refugee Status Determination procedure that allows for each individual to apply for asylum and provides protection and support for refugees in line with all other Western democratic countries.

• Stop the incite to violence and threat of deportation against Eritreans refugees which would put their lives at risk

• Cease to build the massive detention centre in the Negev desert which is intended to arbitrarily imprison Eritrean refugees indefinitely.

Sincerely

Friends of Peace