Israel returns illegal Sudanese migrants to Egypt

ISMAILIA, Egypt, Aug 19 (Reuters) Israel handed over to Egypt dozens of illegal Sudanese migrants who had crossed into the Jewish state, Egyptian security officials and an Israeli government spokesman said today.

Egyptian authorities said the 48 migrants were handed over at the border yesterday night and were later sent to Cairo for questioning, the officials said. David Baker, an Israeli government spokesman, said the number of migrants was 50.

Many illegal migrants, mostly from Sudan's war-torn Darfur region, have risked being shot by police as they cross into Israel through Sinai seeking asylum and a better life away from the war in Darfur and the harsh living conditions in Egypt.

Baker said the people who were handed over to Egypt were not from Darfur. He added that Israel's policy was to deport all illegal immigrants, but said 500 immigrants from Darfur would be allowed to stay.

Egypt has stepped up efforts to stop human trafficking on the border with Israel, a source of tension between the two countries. Border police shot at a group of African migrants trying to sneak into Israel in July, killing one woman and wounding four, including a child.

In June, Egyptian authorities arrested 106 Sudanese trying to cross into the Jewish state, long loathed among Arab and Muslim countries for its occupation of Arab territories.

''We can blame them (the Sudanese) but we should condemn the governments. Oppression and injustice made those people look for salvation even if it was in Israel,'' said Gamal Eid, head of Egypt's Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.

Activists say Sudanese refugees in Egypt face racism, police abuse and economic marginalisation.

Eid said some 12,000 Egyptians were living and working in Israel, fleeing poverty and high unemployment in the most populous Arab country.

Egypt was the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1979, but a poll conducted by a government agency in 2006 found 92 per cent of Egyptians regard Israel as a a hostile state.

REUTERS RKM KP1624