Tel Aviv: More than 100 injured in violent clash between Eritrean asylum seekers and police
More than 100 people have been hurt in the violent clashes in Israel, as Sangita Lal reports
More than 100 people have been injured in clashes involving Eritrean asylum seekers and Israeli police in Tel Aviv.
The violence erupted near the country’s embassy on Saturday, as protesters were demonstrating against an event being held there.
Government supporters were marking the 30th anniversary of the Eritrean president's rise to power, but police could not keep those demonstrating against the event away, resulting in a violent street confrontations.
The violence involved construction lumber, pieces of metal, rocks and at least one axe being used, tearing through a neighbourhood of south Tel Aviv where many asylum seekers live.
Israeli police in riot gear shot tear gas, stun grenades and live rounds while officers on horseback tried to control the protesters, who reportedly broke through barricades and hurled chunks rocks at the police. Police said officers resorted to live fire when they felt their lives were in danger.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene a meeting Sunday to discuss potential action against those who participated in the clashes, including deportations.
Police said Eritrean government supporters and opponents had received permission for separate events on Saturday and had promised to stay away from each other. But at some point, the promises were broken, said Chaim Bublil, a Tel Aviv police commander.
“A decision was made by the government opponents to break through the barriers, to clash with the police, to throw stones, to hit police officers,” Bublil told reporters at the scene.
He said the police had arrested 39 people and confiscated tasers, knives and clubs.
The Magen David Adom rescue service said at least 114 people were hurt, including eight who were in serious condition. The others had moderate or mild injuries. Of those hurt, 30 were police officers, said Bublil.
A spokesperson for Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital said it was treating 11 patients for gunshot wounds. Police said three protesters were wounded by police fire.
By late Saturday afternoon, the clashes had stopped. Police were still rounding up protesters, putting them on buses.
Many of the anti-government protesters wore sky blue shirts designed after Eritrea’s 1952 flag, a symbol of opposition to the government of the east African country, while government supporters wore purple shirts with a map of Eritrea.
Eritreans make up the majority of the more than 30,000 African asylum seekers in Israel. They say they fled danger and persecution from a country known as the “North Korea of Africa” with forced lifetime military conscription in slavery-like conditions.
Eritrea’s government has denounced anti-government protesters as “asylum scum ” who have marched against similar events in Europe and North America.
President Isaias Afwerki, 77, has led Eritrea since 1993, taking power after the country won independence from Ethiopia after a long guerrilla war. There have been no elections and there’s no free media.
Exit visas are required for Eritreans to leave the country. Many young people are forced into military service with no end date, human rights groups and United Nations experts say.
In Israel, they face an uncertain future as the state has attempted to deport them. But despite the struggle to stay, in often squalid conditions, many say they enjoy some freedoms they never would have at home — like the right to protest.
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...