July 10, 2007

The Jewish Agency for Israel will house 58 refugees from Sudan in its student village near Sderot. The refugees were turned away Monday by the municipality of Beersheba, where they arrived upon entering Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office had requested the agency host the refugees.

The absorption center, Ibim, is for new immigrant students from around the world.

"This is a humanitarian gesture to human beings in distress," said Jewish Agency Chairman Zeev Bielski.