Israel, U.N. work on African refugee plan

JERUSALEM, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Israel is working with the United Nations to determine the fate of 2,400 African refugees who have entered the country through Egypt.

The refugees, about 200 of whom are from Darfur, are being interviewed to determine how many will be allowed to stay, said Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, the Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.

Government officials are also meeting with representatives from the Israeli office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to create a plan for the refugees and find ways to prevent more from crossing over the uncontrolled Israeli-Egyptian border.

A fence along the border, where dozens of refugees cross into Israel every day, is a priority, Sheetrit said.

The crossing is treacherous for the refugees, who generally must pay Bedouin smugglers to help them get into Israel, the newspaper said. There are also reports that Egyptian soldiers have killed people trying to cross the border.

Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the country will begin deporting refugees to Egypt, a move that has been criticized by many human rights groups who say they face violence there.