African Migrants in Israel: Gov't to pay Israelis to find and expel African asylum seekers

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Israeli civilians will be paid thousands of dollars if they help the government expel African asylum seekers from the country. This is according to an immigration authority report released this week. CGTN'S Stephanie Freid in Tel Aviv has the latest.

STEPHANIE FREID TEL AVIV "Nine thousand dollars. That's the bonus Israeli civilians will get if they help track and deport African asylum seekers in Israel."

The offer from Israel's immigration authority comes as an Israeli government initiative to deport African refugee and asylum seekers to Rwanda and Uganda is slated to begin. Africans who do not opt for quote un-quote voluntary deportation will be incarcerated. The UN agency for refugees, UNHCR, is appealing to Israel's government to halt deportations.

WALPURGA ENGLEBRECHT UNHCR, TEL AVIV "Let's see who is in need of protection, what can the international community do. But not necessarily go for a forced relocation policy where you say: Either you go to this third country, otherwise you face detention for an indefinite period of time."

The UNHCR offered to work with Israel's government in finding a solution for the nearly forty thousand Sudanese and Eritrean asylum seekers currently living in Israel. Fewer than a dozen Africans have been granted asylum or refugee status since an influx of arrivals started nearly a decade ago. Israel's government maintains Sudanese and Eritrean nationals in Israel are mostly job-seekers.

STEPHANIE FREID TEL AVIV "Those seeking asylum say they face imprisonment or death if they return home. Stephanie Freid, CGTN, TEL AVIV."