No to the closure of the Holot facility
The Law Against Infiltration (felonies and jurisdiction) (executive order) 2017
Following the verdict by the High Court of Justice enabling the deportation of infiltrators to safe third countries, and in tandem with the amendments of agreements with these countries so that infiltrators can be deported even against their will, the government again acted to amend the Anti Infiltration Law. The new law enables the minister of the interior to impose geographic limitations on the infiltrators. In addition, the law enables the imposition of fines on those who employ migrants in violation of the migrants’ staying permit limitations.
In light of the intention of the government at the time to place two options for the migrants: be transferred to custody in a closed facility or leave Israel for a third country, it was decided that there is no longer any need for the Holot facility. Therefore, the clauses of the law enabling to enforce it as an executive order were extended by only three months.
The IIPC has commended the government’s decision to promote the implementation of deportation to third countries, but called on it not to cancel the legal agreement enabling the continued operation of the Holot facility. Migration is a global phenomenon not expected to pass, and holding facilities for illegal migrants exist in every country. One cannot know when migration to Israel may renew and therefore as part of a responsible long-term policy, there is a need to extend the executive order by three years or even to legislate it permanently.
19.11.2017
