SJP Event Sheds Light on Syria
Since its beginning, the Syrian conflict has been a confusing one, made worse by the long list of states and non-government organizations backing either the rebels or the Assad regime.
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Merkel, Faymann Convene EU Summit on Refugees
European Union Heads of State met for an informal meeting on September 23, focusing on the Syrian refugee crisis with the goal of attaining asylum for refugees and ending the war in Syria. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the summit with Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria.
Read MoreKerry Announces US Plan for Refugees
Secretary of State John Kerry announced on September 20 the United States’ plan to raise the annual cap on migrants allowed into the country. Presently, the cap is 70,000 migrants, but it is expected to rise to 80,000 in the next fiscal year, and to 100,000 in 2017. Many of these migrants will include refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war, as well as other conflict zones in the Middle East.
Read MoreNo End in Sight for EU’s Immigration Crisis
Recently, the numbers of migrants coming into the Schengen area has reached severe new heights with Europe’s largest economy, Germany, expecting 800,000 asylum applications for 2015. Yet the question in most observers’ minds is “What are they doing about it?” or better yet “What are they going to do about it?”
Read MoreNetanyahu Responds to Opposition’s Call to Welcome Refugees
Netanyahu claims that while Israel is “not indifferent to the human tragedy of the refugees,” the country is not in a position to take them in. This statement came in response to Israel’s liberal opposition leader Isaac Herzog, who firmly proclaimed Jewish history’s moral obligation to show compassion.
Read MoreEuropean Policies Diverge on Refugees
The BBC reports that considering their increasing estimates of incoming migrants, now a staggering 800,000, Germany’s government has released an additional 3 billion euros from the federal budget to help local governments. The influx of refugees from the Middle East also affects European migrants–the German government will change the status of Kosovo, Albania, and Montenegro to “safe” so that migrants from those countries can be easily deported.
Read MoreUNHCR to EU: Refugees, Not Migrants
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated, “Conflating refugees and migrants can have serious consequences for the lives and safety of refugees.” Referring to these individuals as “migrants” dismisses their original reason for emigrating, and takes away the legal protection afforded by refugee status.
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