The Eritrean Embassy in Washington has announced on behalf of the government in Asmara an orderly procedure whereby Eritrean citizens can return to their homeland safely despite the corona
Foreign workers in Tel Aviv (those photographed have no connection to the article)
Photography:
Gideon Markovich
Has the way been paved to resume the return of Eritrean infiltrators to their country?
The outbreak of the corona plague has halted the process of returning illegal workers from Eritrea.
By March 2020, an average of about 200 Eritreans left Israel each month and returned to their homeland.
In total, according to data from the Population and Immigration Authority, more than 10,500 infiltrators have voluntarily left since 2016, with a significant percentage returning directly to their country.
In recent months, however, only a few infiltrators have left Israel.
This is because with the onset of the plague Eritrea closed its gates to the world, but that policy changed a week ago.
The Eritrean Embassy in Washington has announced on behalf of the government in Asmara an orderly procedure whereby Eritrean citizens can return to their homeland safely despite the corona.
Against the background of the official announcement, Adv. Yonatan Jakubowicz, director of the Center for Israeli Immigration Policy, says that the Ministry of the Interior must take advantage of the developments as soon as possible, in order to bring the infiltrators back to their country safely. In collaboration with the Eritrean Embassy in Israel.
If necessary, it is also possible to rent special charter flights for the returnees.
This is a particularly important Israeli interest, "said Adv. Jakubowicz.
Meanwhile, the government earlier this week approved the establishment of an electronic visa system (e-Visa), as is customary in advanced countries around the world.
The system will oblige those entering Israel from countries with which there is no visa exemption agreement to submit the application via the Internet.
In this way, the country will have extensive and early knowledge of those who wish to enter the country.
This is in contrast to the current situation, in which those wishing to enter must physically reach the Israeli consulates around the world.
The resolution was submitted by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Interior Minister Deri.
The establishment process is expected to take about a year and a half, and the task has been assigned to the Population and Immigration Authority.
The Population Authority and the Prime Minister's Office say that "this is a comprehensive revolution in everything related to border control, control of those entering Israel and the service provided to passengers in all its shades."
An inter-ministerial team headed by the Director General of the Population and Immigration Authority, Shlomo Mor Yosef, will discuss the work processes and monitor the implementation of the project.