Israel suspends UN deal on African migrants

http://bit.ly/2JgaHum | Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu has suspended an agreement with the United Nations refugee agency on the reallocation to western countries of African migrants currently in Israel. The premier last night wrote on Facebook that he was aware of criticism by residents of poor areas in Tel Aviv where most of the migrants are staying.

Today, he added, he will pay a visit. ''Meanwhile I am suspending the implementation of the agreement'', he said.
Press reports today said the decision was motivated by protests in low-income districts of Tel Aviv - where residents would like a massive, immediate expulsion of the migrants - as well as by criticism from members of Likud, Netanyahu's party, and nationalist party Jewish Home.

Yesterday, countries indicated by Netanyahu as an example of a possible destination for migrants - including Italy and Germany - denied giving their consent to the agreement between Israel and the UN refugee agency. UNHCR has acknowledged Netanyahu's decision to suspend the deal, Carlotta Sami, the organization's spokesperson for southern Europe, said on Tuesday.

Sami said that the agreement did not mention the countries where the 16,000 migrants should be resettled as the deals are ''made directly by us with the countries that are available''.

In any case, she added, a decision will be taken ''when we have all the elements'' necessary ''and we remain available because this is the solution that would in the end be beneficial for both sides, the State of Israel and the migrants''.