63 Ethiopians ask for time to find asylum

TEL AVIV, Israel, June 26 (UPI) -- Sixty-three Ethiopian citizens jailed in Israel for over one year appealed to the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court not to carry out an order to deport them.

They said they feared they would be killed if they return to Ethiopia, the Haaretz newspaper's Web site said Saturday.

The Ethiopians entered Israel in 2004, some with tourist visas and others having infiltrated across the border from Egypt. They said they had been students in Ethiopia and that its government considered their political activity to be inciteful -- so they fear their lives would be in danger if they return.

Israel rejected their request to be recognized as refugees. They were arrested and served with expulsion orders.

The appellants said they have requested asylum in Canada and asked to stay in Israel as long as there is a chance Canada would take them in.

In recent days the Ethiopian embassy issued travel documents for them, facilitating their expulsion even against their will, Haaretz noted.