Israel is Paradise

February 3, 2008 - 1:00 PM by Stephanie

The topic of refugees coming to Israel from Sudan, the Ivory Coast & Eritrea is currently front and center in Israel. Looks like word on the troubled streets of some war torn African countries is that Israel is a safe haven.

Perhaps. But refugees are being housed in basement bomb shelters sans running water or electricity and sometimes being sent off to prison holding camps. Seems harsh, yes.

But how do you respond to arriving nationals hailing from countries you’re officially “in a state of war” with?

Ola Hadasha blogs her observations here. An excerpt:

I talk to Kourouma, who is 22. ‘We left everything behind because of the war,’ he says. ‘We have lost all our families – some are dead, the rest have disappeared.

‘We came through six countries to get here. It took us four years. First Guinea, then Mali, Niger, Algeria, Lybia and Egypt. In each place we were clandestine, working until we could move on to the next, until we got to Israel, when the army took us at the border and brought us here. This is the first country to accept us.

Definitely read the entry. Send an e-mail if you can help…

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