US Diplomat Will Travel to Syria to Discuss Iraqi Refugees; Egypt Deports Hundreds of Eritrean Refugees; Two Settlers Arrested in Connection to Videotaped West Bank Assault

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – US Ambassador James Foley, the US Department of State’s coordinator for Iraqi refugees, will visit Syria from June 23-26.  His visit to Syria is part of a trip to four Middle Eastern countries in an effort to increase the number of refugees going to the US.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that nearly 1 in 10 Iraqis are either internally displaced or has fled the country.  An estimated 2.3 million are refugees, with nearly 1.5 million refugees live in Syria and 500,000 in Jordan.  In 2007, some 52,000 Iraqis applied for refugee status, making them the largest applicant group.

Foley’s Middle East tour includes stops in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and the purpose is to increase the number of Iraqis traveling to the US in order to reach President Bush’s goal of accepting 12,000 Iraqis by the end of September. 

“He will assess the needs of Iraqi refugees in these countries and look at ways to enhance programs that provide assistance to refugees and help resettle the most vulnerable in third countries,” said Kurtis Cooper, a Department of State spokesman.

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – US Diplomat to visit Syria on Iraqi Refugees – 20 June 2008

Reuters – Refugees of Shattered East Account for 50% of World-s Refugees – 20 June 2008

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CAIRO, Egypt – On June 20, Egyptian authorities moved some 350 Eritrean migrants from Cairo to the Read Sea for deportation.  Earlier, on June 13, Amnesty International criticized Egypt for forcibly returning over 700 Eritrean nationals to Eritrea.  Currently, sources close to the migrant community estimate that 810 Eritreans have been forcibly returned.

Some of the Eritrean nationals returned are economic migrants, who use Egypt as a transit country before crossing into Israel to look for work.  However, some of the Eritreans being transported are Pentecostal Christians fleeing religious persecution.  Others are trying to avoid military conscription.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees said on June 19 that the Egyptian authorities were obstructing access to the asylum seeker.  The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, also expressed alarm over the number of Eritreans forcibly expelled in recent days. 

“People who could well be at risk in their home country should never be sent back before their asylum claims have been properly addressed,” Arbour said.  “Egypt should respect its international obligations not to send home anyone who could face torture or other serious forms of ill treatment, as may well be the case with those who have apparently been deported in recent days.”

For more information, please see:

AHN – UN Criticizes Eritreans Deportations from Egypt – 20 June 2008

Reuters – Egypt Moves More Eritreans Slated for Deportation – 20 June 2008

Amnesty International – Egypt Continues to Deport Eritrean Asylum Seeker – 13 June 2008

Associated Press – Amnesty Criticizes Egypt for Deporting Eritreans – 12 June 2008

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HEBRON, West Bank – On June 17, two Israeli settlers were arrested in connection to the attack on the Nawaja family, near the Susia settlement.  Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, stated that an adult man and male minor were arrested as a result of enquiries at Susia settlement.

Rosenfeld also stated that the film footage was being closely examined.  One focus is whether there was any "provocation" for the attack.  Another question is whether all the Palestinians were indeed "shepards." 

The attack was filmed by Muna Nawaja, the daughter in law of Thamam al-Nawaja, whose cheek bone was fractured and arm was broken during the attack.  Since the Nawaja family is a target of frequent attacks by settlers, B'Tselem gave them a video camera as part of their "Shooting Back" project. 

For more information, please see:

BBC – West Bank "Attackers" Arrested – 17 June 2008

B'Tselem – Two Settlers Arrested on Suspicion of Videotaped Assault on Palestinians – 17 June 2008