Israel is contemplating stringent measures, including the immediate deportation of Eritrean asylum seekers involved in the riots that took place in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
The violent clashes resulted in 170 injuries and erupted between police and clashes between groups supporting and opposing the Eritrean regime.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “a red line” had been crossed and ordered a new plan to remove all African migrants he deemed “illegal infiltrators.”
The unrest began when activists opposed to the Eritrean government asked Israeli authorities to cancel an event organized by their country’s embassy. They breached a police barricade around the venue, which was subsequently vandalized.
Police in riot gear used tear gas, stun grenades, and live rounds, while officers on horseback attempted to disperse the protesters. An investigation is underway to determine if the use of live fire was legal.
Street battles between large crowds of Eritreans armed with wood, metal, and rocks erupted, resulting in attacks on each other and the vandalism of shop windows and cars. The divisions within the Eritrean community over President Isaias Afwerki’s rule have spilled over into the diaspora, leading to recent outbreaks of violence.
Residents described central Tel Aviv as resembling a war zone during the clashes, with police helicopters overhead and blaring sirens.
The rioting has brought the contentious issue of migrants back into the political spotlight, adding to Israel’s existing divisions over the government’s controversial judicial overhaul plan.
Netanyahu and some members of his cabinet have accused the Supreme Court of blocking previous attempts to expel migrants from Israel.
Regarding the illegal infiltrators in south Tel Aviv and elsewhere, Netanyahu stated, “Now there remains a serious problem.” He called for harsh measures against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of participants, and requested that ministers present plans for the removal of all other illegal infiltrators.
The far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir intends to propose a bill to amend Israel’s quasi-constitutional basic law on human dignity and liberty to facilitate the mass deportation of migrants who entered the country illegally.
Approximately 18,000 Eritrean asylum seekers reside in Israel, with most arriving illegally years ago by crossing Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. They claim to have fled danger, persecution, and mandatory military conscription in one of the world’s most repressive nations.
While Eritreans supporting the regime may not appear to require international protection as refugees, Israeli authorities have not previously differentiated between asylum seekers based on their political affiliations.
In addition to Israel, Eritrean diaspora festivals in Europe and North America have also been marred by outbreaks of violence, including the cancellation of a three-day Eritrean cultural festival in Toronto, Canada, last month after supporters and opponents of Eritrea’s regime clashed.