Israeli Artists React To The Expulsion Of Refugees

"We wish you success."
That is how the letter of the Israeli government ended, after it informed Eritrean asylum seekers held in the Holot facility that they should leave for Rwanda, otherwise they would be imprisoned in Saharonim prison indefinitely.

This is about 40,000 refugees who will be expelled from the State of Israel under a human trafficking agreement, which Israel signed with Rwanda, a third world country.
The agreement was officially denied a few days ago by the Rwandese government, but senior officials in the Israeli and Rwandan government confirmed it, showing that the Israeli government would pay Rwanda about $ 5,000 for each refugee and another $3,500 to the refugee himself.

In the last week, hundreds from the theater industry signed a petition against the expulsion: Former director general of the Cameri Theatre, Noam Semel; Director of Beit Lessin Theatre, Tsippi Pines; Director of the current Cameri Theatre, Shmulik Ifrah; Artistic director of the Haifa Theatre, Moshe Naor; Choreographer Rami Be'er; Dalia Shimko, Ruth Kanner, Moni Moshonov, Dror Keren, and others.

All these and more are standing against the expulsion, reminding the Israeli government that this year, when Israel celebrates 70 years of independence, it is forbidden to deport the refugees.

"To stop the cruel policy of expulsion that is contrary to Jewish tradition!" Amos Oz and A. B. Yehoshua wrote: "Expulsion of asylum seekers is expected to begin before Holocaust Day. We call upon you to act with morality, humanity and compassion worthy of the Jewish people, and to stop in advance the expulsion of refugees to the hell from which they fled. Otherwise we will not have a rebirth."

As part of my research, I interviewed Samuel El-Sheikh, a Sudanese refugee, 24 years old, actor and creator.

Tell me about the decision to come to Israel, when did it arrive?
I came from Sudan on 1 July 2007 after I saw the death in my eyes. I crossed the border between Israel and Egypt.

And when did you first know you wanted to work in the theater?
Even when I was a little boy, I loved to play. Long before I knew it was a profession! I studied acting in high school in Sudan, but on the way to Israel, in Egypt, I realized that I want to be an actor and to create in the theater! On stage or in front of the camera I feel that this is the best place for me!

What have you created in Israel to this day?
"The Legendary Bachelor", "From My Father's Books", "I Am From Small Town"- a one person show about my personal story that came up at the Acre Festival 2016.

I would love to know about the difficulties you have experienced in your journey as an actor. Are you also supposed to be deported?
My creations require time, and on the other hand, I also have to make a living. I live in uncertainty, which makes it even more difficult. My dream is to get Israeli citizenship. I am a coach that can help me a lot more to succeed in my profession. I was invited many times to appear abroad and could not fly because of my status. I believe that all refugees dream of receiving recognition as refugees, and then when they have the opportunity, they will become more clever and help the state. A lot of my friends tell me that they want to study in acting schools for example, but they cannot. They do not have enough money to study, and even if they do, they do not think they will get a certificate because of their status.

You have the stage here to say what your dreams are, what you would like to create, you do. What is your dream?
I would be happy to have the opportunity to bring the wonderful African culture to Israel. To create with confidence, and not with uncertainty. To be like any other person.

Another interesting group is Holot Theatre, a theater group made up of asylum seekers and Israelis, presenting the reality in which refugees live in Israel, and the attitude of Israeli governments to the Refugee Convention and international law.

Over the past year, the group has experimented with various techniques from the director of the theater of the oppressed by the Brazilian director and thinker Augusto Boal, with the aim of addressing personal and social issues related to the lives of asylum seekers living in Israel.

To date, some 1,500 refugees have been "voluntarily deported" to Rwanda, and only after eight years has the State of Israel succeeded in establishing contact.
About 800 people in the industry stand together and say no to deportation. Let the government of Israel remember the trial, which dates back to the Bible: "You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Deuteronomy 10:19
In conclusion, I will quote a few lines from the song "Congratulations Israel" written by Ivri Lider and Muki:
"We've been exiled then, now we're the ones who exile, Brilliant in being dumb"

Note: On the first of February, Thursday, Samuel appears at the Festival of the Penzins at the new Central Bus Station, Tel Aviv, between 04:00 PM and 08:00 PM.

Photo Cradit: AFP, Samuel El-Sheikh, Tmuna, Efrat Eshel, Peri Kafri, Ron Fadida.

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