South Sudanese officials coming to Israel to assist in deportations

Officials from South Sudan are set to arrive in Israel to help coordinate the deportation of up to 1,500 of its citizens.

At least 300 South Sudanese migrants have reportedly signed voluntary departure forms indicating their willingness to be repatriated to their home country, according to Israeli media reports.

More than 100 illegal migrants from South Sudan have been rounded up in immigration control sweeps this week.

Some 200 South Sudanese migrants are scheduled to fly out of Israel on Sunday, as well as another plane load in July after the families’ children have finished school.

On June 7, a Jerusalem court approved the deportation of South Sudanese nationals who have entered the country illegally, paving the way for operation “Returning Home.” The Population and Immigration Authority announced shortly thereafter South Sudanese would have one week to turn themselves in and leave the country, or be deported by force.

There are roughly 1,500 South Sudanese in Israel, a small percentage of the estimated 60,000 African migrants, mostly from Eritrea and Sudan proper, who have entered the country illegally. Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas), last week, expressed hope that the court would allow the deportation of migrants from Eritrea and Sudan as well. Currently citizens of the two countries enjoy immunity from deportation as the security situation there grants them collective protection.

Over the past month, tensions have been running particularly high between Israelis and illegal African migrants, resulting in large demonstrations and occasionally degenerating into violence, primarily in the Hatikvah neighborhood of south Tel Aviv.