Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 24, 2008 Adar1 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:06 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 11:41 16/02/2008 Eritrean refugee killed trying to enter Israel illegally from Egypt By The Associated Press Tags: Egypt, Israel, border  EL-ARISH, Egypt - Egyptian border guards shot and killed an Eritrean woman and arrested her two young daughters Saturday after they tried to cross illegally into Israel, security and medical officials said. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Mervat Mer Hatover, and her daughters, ages 8 and 10, were among a group of African refugees who paid hundreds of dollars to human traffickers to help them cross into Israel, said a security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The guards chased the Africans along Egypt's border with Israel near Kontala, some 30 kilometers south of the Aouja crossing point, firing into the air and ordering the refugees to surrender, according to the official. Advertisement Hatover refused and tried to jump over the barbed wire marking the border when guards opened fire on her, he added. Hatover died from a bullet wound to the head, said Imad Kharboush, head of the emergency unit at el-Arish hospital, where the victim's body was transferred. Kharboush said he received an order from a military prosecutor to carry out an autopsy. On Jan. 30, two African refugees from Ivory Coast were shot dead under similar circumstances. Israel estimates that 2,800 people, mostly from Africa, have entered the country illegally through its border with Egypt in recent years searching for jobs. Elisheva Milikovsky, who has volunteered to work with the Sudanese refugees, told Haaretz recently that there are some 2,600 asylum seekers residing in the Tel Aviv area, of which hundreds live in shelters, and some 6,000 nationwide. The number shot up last summer, apparently as word spread of job opportunities in Israel and a more lenient policy toward refugees. As many as 50 people arrived each day in June, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Early Friday morning, 123 Sudanese refugees infiltrated Israel through the border with Egypt, on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip. An Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson told Haaretz that the refugees entered Israel in small groups, at different locations along the border. Haim Yellin, head of Eshkol Regional Council, expressed his anxiety about the ease with which people are able to cross the border into Israel. "The border with Egypt is porous and invites into Israel people who are undesirable," he said. Related articles: Darfur refugee with cancer, selected for release, kept in jail Darfur refugees auditioned for a benefit concert in T.A. Sudanese refugees treated poorly as farm workers One-woman rescue mission Bookmark to del.icio.us   Holocaust row U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick. 5 Stops in Galilee Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.   1.   The killing fields on our border. 13:16  |  Stephen. 16/02/08   2.   ? 13:18  |  danny 16/02/08   3.   and yet Palestinians are immune to the same treatment 14:47  |  Avi 16/02/08   4.   Egypt flooding Israel with Islamist-Jihadist terrorists 15:19  |  Brod 16/02/08   5.   no different than the nazis 16:31  |  Seth J. Frantzman 16/02/08   6.   May God be with her 00:44  |  Wodi Asmara 19/02/08   7.   I don`t know! 21:28  |  Abu Djunud 24/02/08

Today Online Israel girds for 40,000-strong Gaza human chain Responses: 214 Gideon Levy: The Jerusalem issue is easy - half for Jews, half for Palestinians Responses: 67 For IDF brigade, 'Hebron is like Wild West and army is the law' Responses: 49 Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable' Responses: 105 Neo-Nazi turns Haredi after discovering his Jewish roots Responses: 46 Rosner's Domain Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? What America wants from an operation in Gaza Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation More Headlines 20:43 Israel girds for 40,000-strong Gazan human chain 21:26 IDF troops uncover five arms smuggling tunnels in south Gaza 21:16 Barak rejects PM call to ease rules of engagement at border 17:55 Olmert pulls for Beaufort, says 'it's time Israel won an Oscar' 19:16 PM: We absolutely won't fortify every building in Gaza area 20:39 Israeli Americans vote Clinton, but Obama wins global primary 19:53 Israel, Palestinians to start talks on civilian issues next week 21:28 Jordan to Arab MKs: Unilateral measures will harm peace talks 21:31 Rebel Catholics: Pope caved on prayer to convert Jews 21:30 U.K. paper prints photo of Anne Frank's childhood love interest 21:20 Hamas loyalists turn preacher's funeral into W. Bank protest Previous Editions Select Day 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved