Court rules Eritrean draft dodgers eligible for asylum in Israel

An Israeli appeals court rules that Eritreans who deserted military service in their home country and came to Israel should be considered asylum seekers.

The decision could affect thousands of Eritreans living in Israel who are facing deportation.

“There is a well-founded fear of persecution because of the political opinion attributed to him by his country’s authorities as a result of his desertion from military service,” the decision said of deserters.

Israel until now has refused to process the vast majority of asylum seeker applications.

There are approximately 38,000 African migrants and asylum seekers in Israel, according to the Interior Ministry. About 72 percent are Eritrean and 20% are Sudanese. The vast majority arrived between 2006 and 2012.

— Dov Lieber