Israel's 'draconian' measures will not deter African migrants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National by Vita Bekker - June 5, 2012 - 12:00am Refugee advocates yesterday criticised as "draconian" Israel's announcement that it would begin jailing African asylum-seekers for up to three years, saying the measure would do little to deter more migrants from entering Israel illegally. In another development that reflected hostility towards the newcomers arriving through the Israeli-Egyptian desert border, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli premier, said yesterday that Israel will step up deportation plans for 25,000 of the migrants. » Read more

In unprecedented move, Israel's Foreign Ministry condemns violence against African migrants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz by Barak Ravid - June 4, 2012 - 12:00am The Foreign Ministry issued an unprecedented statement on Monday in which it harshly condemned the recent violence against African migrants living in Israel. Referring to an arson attack on Sunday against an apartment rented by Eritrean migrants, the statement said, "There is no justification [for] such a heinous crime that puts people's lives in harm's way... No person has the right to violate the law and resort to violence against others, certainly not to endanger lives, for any reason whatsoever." » Read more

Israeli Leader Pledges Hard Line on Migrants ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times by Isabel Kershner - June 4, 2012 - 12:00am Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to step up efforts to deter, detain and deport illegal migrants to Israel, as tensions mount over an influx of asylum seekers from Africa. His pledge came a day before an early morning fire, apparently set by arsonists, ravaged an apartment occupied by about 10 Eritrean migrants on Monday. Four people were injured. Though there have been a number of firebomb attacks against migrants in south Tel Aviv in recent weeks, the fire was the first attack on migrants in Jerusalem, the police said. » Read more