The Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, chaired by MK Yaakov Asher (United Torah Judaism), on Monday, voted to approve for a first reading in the plenum the Immediate Expulsion of Infiltrators Who Support their Country’s Regime Bill, 2024.
The explanatory notes to the bill, which seeks to amend the Entry into Israel Law, state that its purpose is to ensure the immediate expulsion of infiltrators who support the government in their country of origin, thereby safeguarding Israel’s national security and public order.
A “supporter of the administration” refers to an infiltrator who has expressed direct or indirect support for their home country’s regime, whether through public statements or substantive ties with government representatives.
The Interior Minister may order the expulsion of an infiltrator if, based on an opinion submitted by the director of the Population and Immigration Authority, it is determined that he or she supports their home country’s administration. Before removal, the infiltrator will be given an opportunity to present their case within a specified period. If it is confirmed that the infiltrator supports the administration and fails to prove that returning to their home country would endanger their life or liberty, the minister will revoke their temporary residence permit and expel them as soon as possible.
MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beitenu), the bill’s sponsor, stated: “The issue of infiltrators has been a longstanding and painful problem that has not been properly addressed. A particularly troubling case came to light in which the Eritrean embassy posted bail for Eritrean rioters.
“This bill, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Minister of Interior, aims to grant the minister the authority, following consultation with relevant officials, to expel from Israel infiltrators who support their home country’s regime.”
מאצ׳טות, אלות, גרזנים, סכינים ואבנים. הכל היה שם בארסנל של האריתראים שפרצו למועדון הבי סייד בדרום תל אביב. הם השחיתו אותו לחלוטין. בזזו ציוד יקר ערך, אלכוהול ומחשבים. הרסו פרנסה לבעל המועדון שאומר לנו: הנזק של מאות אלפי שקלים שאף אחד לא יפצה אותי עליו. אני אאלץ לסגור.
הוא גם פנה… pic.twitter.com/ojwxa1xHlg— Yossi Eli (@Yossi_eli) September 18, 2023
MK Gilad Kariv (Labor) argued that this bill would, in effect, grant immunity to supporters of Eritrea’s dictatorial regime rather than expel them. He contended that the legislation would have the opposite effect of its stated intent, as no regime supporters would actually be removed, while opponents of the regime—who should be eligible for refugee status—would be the ones to suffer. “This bill contradicts the procedures that the State of Israel is committed to following in the processing of asylum applications,” Kariv stated.
Here’s an example that illustrates Kariv’s objection: at least 140 people – including 30 police officers — were injured in Tel Aviv in early September 2023 in clashes between Eritrean asylum seekers supporting and opposing the regime in Africa. Hundreds of Eritreans gathered outside the site of a planned pro-regime event sponsored by the Embassy of Eritrea in Israel. The rioters sought to prevent the event from taking place; Israeli police declared the gathering to be an illegal demonstration and ordered the protesters to leave. In response, the rioters — including some who were masked — hurled rocks, lumber, and garbage bags at police officers, yelling, “The State of Israel supports the dictator.”
The police in that case supported the foreigners who should be deported according to the bill and arrested those who rioted against their country’s government.
Indeed, one asylum seeker from Eritrea told the committee, “Many racist things have been said here, from a nation that has been persecuted itself. It’s difficult for me to listen to the nasty things that have been said about us. The bill doesn’t give me protection as an asylum seeker. I have no problem with getting rid of the regime supporters, but this bill gives me no protection. Tomorrow the police could say about me that I’m a regime supporter and I will be expelled.”
Shahar Mandil of ASSAF—Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers––said that the mechanism for checking who is an asylum seeker exists but isn’t being implemented, so the new bill is unnecessary.
