The Jerusalem Post reports: Israel has repatriated some 22,000 illegal African migrants over the last number of years, the cabinet was told Sunday during a discussion on updating the migrant bill.
Israel has been working to repatriate migrants to either their home countries, or third countries, for years, and this is the first time that a firm number has been given. Government officials consistently refuse to say which third parties have agreed to accept the repatriated migrants, though various news reports have mentioned Uganda and Rwanda.
Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo was in Israel last week, her second visit to the country in two years. Senior officials have said that the ties with Rwanda are now the closest ties Israel has with any African country. In addition, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos last week.
Read more at the Jerusalem Post
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