Message to the peoples of Israel, Egypt and
Libya
There is a saying in my mother language that reveals
the seriousness of curse, “If a curse of someone doesn’t kill you, it can
definitely get you troubles in your life.” If troubled people come and ask us
for help, please don’t let them shrivel and die by refusing to give what they
want. Because, they will be cursing us if they get what they feared most in
their lives – due to our unwillingness to help them. The norms of hospitality
and sharing, in times of need, have prevailed throughout the history of humans.
As they, indeed, are the prime acts of humanity. I have once read a touching
story in the bible - the widow of Zarephath who
welcomed Prophet Elijah into her home when she had only one meal to offer; and
later on God filled her pantry as fast as it was emptied and Elijah remained
with her for many days. This kind of act, however, is not always what
we see. There are people, who oppress and embarrass other humans like them, in
their terrible exodus journeys. We must not forget that in the history of humanity,
there could be a possibility that we might once be refugees, leaving our place
that we may have presumed to be our life long destinations. That is why, God
reminded the Israelites not to forget their bad times - as written in the
following verse from the bible.
Exodus 22:21 "You must not mistreat or
oppress foreigners in any way. Remember, you yourselves were once foreigners in
the land of Egypt.”
I have been following the news, recently, that has
been emanating from Israel, and I am not convinced about the stand of Netanyahu’s
government, about the case of Eritrean refugees in the country. I believe they
have forgotten what they were told few thousands years back, as stated in the
above verse. It will definitely have some negative result for their people, if
they fail to shelter our people at this critical moment of our history. All the
genuinely democratic countries have been treating Eritreans as political, and
not as economic immigrants. Hence, these fellows deserve to be given their
papers right away and be relieved from their long nights of nightmares - after having
seen them come through the unimaginable hell on this earth. The Bedouins have
been smuggling and selling them by asking unbearable amounts of money; and some
greedy residents of Libya and Egypt who have been exploiting the helpless
moments of these Eritreans – by terrorizing them and seizing whatever money
they have got. Those who have been suffering there, did curse them time and time
again, while crying for help from God. It has been said that history, in one
way or another, repeats itself, and we have been witnessing the Arab uprising –
the prevailing painful revolution and political turmoil in North Africa and
Middle East countries.
This revolution will definitely have a longstanding
effect for their future - just like what has been our fate – due to the border
conflict with Ethiopia and the choice of dictatorship by Isaias, thereafter.
Hence, the Libyans and Egyptians have inevitably started fleeing their
countries and will continue to flee seeking asylum in other countries. There is
no question about the history of migration about the Israelites, as we have all
seen them settled in every country we are in at the moment - just because of
their terrible history. In everything, therefore, there is a general norm of
reciprocity to treat others the same way you want them to treat you. Thus, the
peoples and governments of Israel, Libya and Egypt should act soon to curb the
heartless activities of these human traffickers and robbers, in the first place.
And, more importantly, they should act like responsible governments, who value
humanity ahead of their narrowly minded national interests. But, if they fail
to do so, they will definitely be ashamed of this black history later –
suffering of helpless fellow Eritreans - being manifested in their
territories.
TESFAMICHAEL W. TEWELDE
Antwerp, Belgium
10/06/2012
