Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to immediately deport Eritrean asylum seekers after more than a hundred people were injured in clashes with police on Saturday.
Following a ministers' meeting in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu hit out at the Supreme Court for blocking deportations and said he would start deporting “rioters” immediately.
“There remains the serious problem of the illegal infiltrators in southern Tel Aviv and other places, but what happened yesterday crossed a red line,” he said. “This disturbance, the bloodshed, these are things that we cannot tolerate.
“We are seeking strong steps against the rioters, including the immediate expulsion of those who took part. It is hard for me to understand why we would have a problem with those who declare that they support the regime; they certainly cannot claim refugee status.”
Mr Netanyahu vowed to update plans “to repatriate all of the remaining illegal infiltrators from the State of Israel”, adding: “This is the purpose of our meeting today.”
Israeli media reported at least 150 people were injured in the clashes, while the police said 27 officers were injured.
Three protesters were shot by live rounds after police officers said they felt “real danger to their lives”.
Israeli police in riot gear and on horseback tried to corral the protesters, who broke through barricades and hurled chunks of pavement, batteries and rocks at them.
“Officers who feared for their lives used live fire against rioters,” police said, adding that 27 officers were wounded.
Police said they arrested 10 suspects “who assaulted police and threw stones”.
There were further violent protests reported as Eritrea marked 30 years of independence at festivals in Europe and North America.
Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital said it treated 38 people wounded in the clashes, including a dozen with gunshot wounds.
Police said they were reinforcing their personnel in the area, with reports of clashes between Eritreans and police, as well as between supporters and opponents of Eritrea's government, continuing elsewhere in south Tel Aviv.
Eritreans make up the majority of the more than 30,000 African asylum seekers in Israel.
President Isaias Afwerki, 77, has led the nation in the Horn of Africa since 1993, taking power after the country won independence from Ethiopia in a long guerrilla war.
In Israel, Eritreans say they face an uncertain future as the state attempts to deport them. But many say they enjoy some freedoms including the right to protest.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Background: Chemical Weapons
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
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Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
The five pillars of Islam
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
