PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv

Photos & reports: Keren Manor, Yotam Ronen, Tali Mayer, Shiraz Grinbaum, Oren Ziv / Activestills.org

Thousands of African asylum seekers and their supporters marched from Levinksy Park in Tel Aviv’s south on Monday to protest outside of eight foreign embassies, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies.

Marching to the American, British, Swedish, Italian, Canadian, Ethiopian, French and German embassies, the asylum seekers called on the foreign governments exert pressure on Israel to examine their asylum claims and stop arresting and detaining members of the refugee community.

The asylum seekers also marched to the United Nations Refugee Agency, where some of them personally met with UNHCR chief in Israel Walpurga Englbrech. Following the protests, the asylum seekers marched back to south Tel Aviv.

PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
African asylum and supporters at Levinsky Park, south Tel Aviv, before starting a protest march to eight different embassies, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies, Tel Aviv, Israel, January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3,000 African refugees and their supporters protest outside the U.S. embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3,000 African refugees and their supporters protest outside the Canadian embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3,000 African refugees and their supporters protest outside the U.S. embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3,000 African refugees and their supporters protest outside the U.S. embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3,000 African refugees and their supporters protest outside the French embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
UNHCR chief in Israel Walpurga Englbrech meets with African asylum seekers, who hand her their asylum requests, outside UNHCR offices, Tel Aviv, Israel, January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
A man shows his support for the African refugees protesters outside the U.S. embassy, Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 20,000 African refugees and supporters participate in the main demonstration in front of the American embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies, Tel Aviv, Israel, January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 2,500 African refugees and supporters protest in front of the Ethiopian embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3,000 African refugees and supporters protest outside the US embassy, calling on the international community to support their struggle against Israel’s asylum policies. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
Around 3000 African refugees and supporters protest outside the U.S. embassy. Tel Aviv, Israel. January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Asylum seekers protest outside foreign embassies in Tel Aviv
An African asylum seeker outside the U.S. embassy January 6, 2014. (Activestills.org) 

Related:
Day 2 of African asylum seeker protest: What do they want?
Israeli newspaper: ‘Infiltrators occupy Rabin Square’

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