The Reverend Dr. Deedee M. Coleman, President Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, Inc. and to her right is The Reverend Kenneth James Flowers, Chair The Ecumenical/Interfaith Committee along with a host of Detroit area Baptist Pastors join together to condemn the racist policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, targeting Africans from Eritrea and South Sudan seeking asylum in Israel. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

   

 
 

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African asylum seekers and human rights activists protest against deportation in front of the Rwandan Embassy in Herzliya, on January 22, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

  Baptist Pastors in metro Detroit condemn Israeli Gov. policy against Africans seeking asylum

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Last week, the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, Inc. (Council) issued a media statement condemning what appears to be the racist policies of the Israeli Government and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, targeting Africans from Eritrea and South Sudan seeking asylum in Israel. Since, the press received the Council’s media statement, we will not be redundant. As a result of some new developments in recent days, we now issue this updated media statement.

On last Friday, an Appeals Court in Israel ruled that Eritreans who fled military service in Eritrea and came to Israel have grounds to be considered asylum seekers or refugees. This recent court decision could affect thousands of Eritreans in a positive way because under international law, Israel would have to take them in. However, it appears the Netanyahu Government will appeal this ruling, causing the Eritreans' status to remain in limbo.

This is yet another reason why The Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, Inc. speaks out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Government. Let us be perfectly clear, we love the state of Israel and affirm it as "the holy land" and remain in solidarity with the vast majority of the Jewish people. We the Council, who have traveled to Israel, upheld Israel’s right to exist, lobbied for its causes, believes in the two-state solution and believes in the Jewish State, is gravely disappointed in the way the government is treating the 38,000 African immigrants and refugees.

We the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, Inc. cannot condone racist statements and policies from Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government, no more than we can condone President Donald Trump and his racist policies against African Americans, Mexicans, and our Muslim brothers and sisters.

This issue has caused tremendous anguish among Jews in Israel and around the world, the Council stands with and recognizes many Israelis, American Jews, Jewish groups, Rabbis and other Jewish leaders who have strongly urged the Israeli Government to change its plans and policies to deport thousands of Africans. We also recognize Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to fan the flames of dissension as illustrated in a statement he made to The Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.

According to a recent USA Today article, he said Africans who arrived in Israel in recent years, "… posed a real threat to the future of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state." Netanyahu said this because the current African asylum seekers are overwhelmingly Muslim and Christian from Eritrea and Sudan, who chose to come to Israel because of its geographical proximity and reputation as a liberal democracy.

Furthermore, according to Dror Sadot, spokesperson for the Hotline for refugees and migrants, an Israeli Human Rights group, "Israel has granted asylum to only nine African refugees, one of the lowest acceptance rates among industrialized democracies." It has further been reported that "only African refugees are required to attend separate pre-schools.” And, last May, the Deposit Law was established for all Africans that work in Israel. Under this law, Israel requires that 20% of African asylum seekers' salaries are deposited into a fund that will be released to them only, if they relocate from Israel. This is blatant racism on the part of the Israeli Government.

Therefore, as men and women of Faith, who love Israel and are connected to the land because of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, we wholeheartedly condemn these racist policies and call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Government to stop this unjust treatment of the Eritreans and Sudanese asylum seekers.

Furthermore, we call upon the Prime Minister and Israeli Government to grant asylum to these Africans based on last Friday’s court decision, and to be true to who we know you are: A democracy of compassion, ordained by God Almighty. You are Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and a shining light to the world.

According to Exodus 22:21, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government, you are commanded – "Do not mistreat a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt."For Kingdom Sake,

The Reverend Dr. Deedee M. Coleman, President
Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, Inc.

(and)

The Reverend Kenneth James Flowers, Chair
The Ecumenical/Interfaith Committee






 

 

 

   
 
 

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