Israel – Israel said Sunday it would expel refugees from Sudan’s wartorn Darfur region, touching off hot debate over whether the Jewish state, founded after the Nazi genocide, has a duty to take in people fleeing persecution.
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Israel has been grappling for months with how to deal with a swelling flow of Africans, including some from Darfur, who have crossed its porous southern border with Egypt’s Sinai desert. Overnight, Israel returned 48 Africans to Egypt.
Israeli government spokesman David Baker said “The policy of returning back anyone who enters Israel illegally will pertain to everyone, including those from Darfur,” he said.
Eytan Schwartz, an advocate for Darfur refugees in Israel objected to any ban. “The state of Israel has to show compassion for refugees after the Jewish people was subject to persecution throughout its history,” he said.
But Ephraim Zuroff of the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Center said the Jewish people could not be expected to right every wrong just because of its past.
“Israel can’t throw open the gates and allow unlimited access for people who are basically economic refugees,” Zuroff said. [ap]
If you’d like to discuss federal money going to support one religion over another it’s hard to overlook the estimated $3 trillion that have gone to Israel since WWII. I don’t think the cost of school lunches (which I did not eat) compares.
Back on topic – it just seems that if anyone should be sensitive to genocide, it should be the state of Israel. If the genocide occurs against Muslims, well….
The US Government does owe the native americans and we (yes, I’m an American) are trying to make up for what was done by allowing the casinos to be tax exempt. Unfortunately, this is not enough and does not come close to making up for the wrong that was done so many years ago. There are court documents and legislature that prove that America does owe the native americans. Perhaps if you learned some American history in your private religious schools that my tax dollars pay for (free lunch, vouchers, etc), you would know this.
Yes. Israel has done so much for the Palestinians. The Palestinians should spend their time writing thank-you notes and sending flowers. Where would they be without the Israelis?
P.S. The native american population has nearly three times the poverty rate of whites…but don’t worry about small details or FACTS.
Why does no one on the subject of Darfar’s persecuted and subjected to virtual death sentences hold the Islamic Government of the Sudan accountable? Or Russia or China who trade with the Sudan in oil? Why no ruckus there?
Darfar is situated in the Sudan, an Islamic State. In fact there are 22 Islamic States in the Middle East. Some very rich indeed with lots and lots of money, resources with lots and lots of land to take in refugees!
Why Islamic States so concerned over Palestinian refugees not take care of refugees from Islamic countries? How is it they are always exempt when it comes to humanitarian issues? So adept at promoting themselves as victims – how about those made victims in their own States and countries?
anon 6:43
Israel has done so much for the palisteans already, now its time for brother arabs to lend a hand or even a finger.
Both Anon/s 7:39 & 9:29 PM.
The so-called “Palestinians” are not Arabs at all. They are at best a “mixture” of Cherkasians, whatever. They are not descendants of Ishmael, as are the Saudi Arabians and Jordanians. Besides, the “Palestinians” are kept by their “brethren” in permanent “Refugee” status, as a lightning rod, to deflect any revolutionary thoughts of challenging the Feudal and dictatorial system by which those arabic countries are run.
The Second Point. The Government of the USA does not owe anything to the “Indians”. They lost the war/s. Besides, with all the casinos on their properties, which are 100% Tax-Exempt, the “Indians” are not doing so badly, at all.
I suppose The U.S. government owes the Native Americans nothing as well.
“I wouldn’t lose too much sleep worrying that Israel is trying too hard trying to “right all the wrongs in the world.” Maybe start small…the Palistinians for example.”
Israel owes the Palestinians NOTHING. The “Palestinians” are NOT a separate people — Ethnically, linguistically, rligiously and culturally, they are ARABS — before the founding of the PLO in 1964, they REJECTED any effort to designate them as a separate people as part of a Western cololonialist “plot” to hurt the pan-Arab movement and the “greater Arab nation.” The “Palestinians” could have had a homeland at any time (Israel DID NOT CONTROL any of the territory the “Palestinians” claim as theirs prior to the Six Day War) — but the ARABS are not interested in giving them one; they are only interested in destroying Israel as past of their insane racist vendetta against Israel and the Jews. And their Arab “brothers,” including the filthy rich oil sheiks, for all of their crocodile tears they cry for their poor oppressed “Palestinian brothers,” have never done ANYTHING positive for them, but have kept them in refugee camps (none of which are in Israel, all of which are in Arab-held areas) where they could use them for propaganda and recruit them as cannon fodder.
I wouldn’t lose too much sleep worrying that Israel is trying too hard trying to “right all the wrongs in the world.” Maybe start small…the Palistinians for example.
MR. Zuroff’s definition of the Darfur refugees is wrong. Economic refugees are not slaughtered by the thousands as these people are. In view of the past suffering of the Jewish people and the founding Principles of the State, Israel should take the lead in being a haven for persecuted people, but should by no means be the only one [required] to right all the wrongs in the world.