Israel Students for Sudanese Refugees

----- Original Message -----
From: Mollie Gerver [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 10:14 AM
Subject: Israel Students for Sudanese Refugees
Hello,

I am a student from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a founder of "Israel Students and Activists for Sudanese Refugees." We have been lobbying against the deportation of Sudanese refugees back to Egypt. We wish to plan a mass international rally in Tel Aviv in support of an international agreement to assure that every refugee can secure a visa to a country where he can life freely and safely.

-Mollie Gerver (Gerber in Hebrew)


The following is details regarding our organization the rally we are planning:

3,000 refugees, mostly from Sudan, have been arriving in Israel through Egypt this past year. The student organization "Activists for Sudanese Refugees in Israel" is planning a mass international rally for the beginning of September in Tel Aviv in support of asylum for refugees from Sudan. The rally is against deporting Sudanese refugees in Israel back to Egypt. We are in support of an international agreement to give asylum to refugees from Darfur and Southern Sudan. Because the Israeli government does not believe this is an international issue, we are looking for volunteers abroad to help organize this rally, and help us build an English web site to spread the word.



"Activists for Sudanese" was founded by students from Ben Gurion University and Hebrew University to provide basic necessities for refugees thrown on the streets, and to lobby for a government plan to absorb a limited number of refugees, and find an international solution for asylum of refugees. When over a hundred refugees were bused to the Knesset in Jerusalem with no food or shelter, approximately ten students headed a team of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide food, medicine, clothing, diapers, and mattresses for twelve infants, eight toddlers, and thirty men and women, many very ill, and one woman eight months pregnant. We have organized protests and evening of refugee testimonials for thousands of students in Beer Sheva and Jerusalem. Arabic speakers have heard and translated hundreds of testimonials from refugees. All our efforts have been and continue to be featured on a daily basis in Israel's media networks.



Our pressure has lead to MK Malkior from the Labor Party and MK Dov Chanin from the Chadash Communist party to push for a Refugee Rights Act. We have spoken at committee meetings and persuaded the majority of MKs, with representatives from every single party, to sign a petition against immediately deporting refugees and supporting an international agreement.



However, the government has built a sub-section of the prison Ktziot on the border with Egypt for all refugees, including small children and infants. Men and women are separated, as well as children from their parents. Discussions are underway with Egypt to promise to stop deporting refugees to Sudan and to stop shooting at refugees, despite the fact that past promises made by Egypt with European countries have been broken. Advisors to a number of relevant ministers, including the Prime Ministers, have said they cannot meet directly with refugees because it is "not one of their priorities." One minister said he "works to only help citizens" and cannot help us.



Our networking, media, and organizations skills will be applied to bring thousands to this rally as well as the international media. We work with tens of other NGOs who assist refugees, including Amnesty International and the Hotline for Migrant Workers, as well as countless religious and secular youth groups, political parties, interest groups, and unions. Because Israel cannot take in all refugees from Sudan, it is imperative that we make the rally international, in order to send a clear message to all countries.

Masses of Israeli citizens, soldiers, and journalists have been helping refugees: the compassion of the average Israeli to help and protect refugees has been phenomenal. In light of our own history, and as a democratic and free state, it is crucial that this widespread support of refugees is translated into a local government policy, and an international agreement, that strives to give asylum to those who fled genocide. Refugees of genocide have the basic right to life, and must be provided immediate asylum.