UN refugee agency 'deeply' concerned by violent clashes in Israel

GENEVA

The UN refugee agency said Tuesday it is "deeply" concerned by violent clashes in Israel that injured hundreds of asylum seekers and dozens of police officers.

"UNHCR calls for calm and restraint, and on all parties to refrain from taking any steps that could aggravate the situation further," spokesperson William Spindler told a UN news conference.

Spindler said the fighting was "deeply regrettable, and do not reflect the behavior of the broader Eritrean community in Israel," while noting the vast majority of asylum-seekers living in Israel are peaceful and law-abiding.

"While it is important to establish accountability for what happened on Saturday, any decision impacting all Eritrean asylum-seekers or instances of refoulement would contravene international law and could result in dramatic human consequences, as the situation in Eritrea remains unchanged," he said.

One day after the clashes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the deportation of illegal migrants involved in Saturday’s clashes in Tel Aviv, and said the riots by Eritrean asylum seekers as "a rampage we cannot accept."

Videos posted on social media showed street fighting between police and protesters, as well as between opposing groups of Eritrean nationals.

Eritreans make up the majority of African asylum seekers in Israel, estimated at more than 30,000, according to Israeli estimates.

Past years saw fighting between Eritrean opponents and supporters of their country’s regime in Israel.