Israel’s interior minister says it will take months to expel illegal African migrants

JERUSALEM – Israel’s interior minister says it will take months to expel migrants from several African countries who entered Israel illegally.

Eli Yishai spoke on Friday, a day after a Jerusalem court ruled that 4,500 illegal migrants – mostly from South Sudan, Ivory Coast and Mali – are to be expelled. About 60,000 African migrants have trekked through Egypt to reach Israel over the past few years.

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Yishai told Israel radio that tent cities and holding facilities are being built for the migrants. Court decisions are still pending regarding those from other African countries

The illegal migrants have mostly settled in southern Tel Aviv and tensions are high after several recent rapes, which were blamed on the Africans, sparked protests.

Yishai also warned that an influx of migrants destroys Israel’s Jewish character.