Israel considers tough steps to deport rioting Eritreans

Israel is considering tough measures, including the immediate deportation of Eritrean asylum seekers involved in riots, after disorder broke out in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

Some 170 people were injured in violent clashes with police and in-fighting between groups of supporters and opponents of the Eritrean regime, and in the aftermath, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "a red line" had been crossed.

He also ordered a new plan to remove all African migrants that he described as "illegal infiltrators".

Disorder began after activists opposed to the Eritrean government said that they had asked Israeli authorities to cancel an event organised by their country's embassy, and after a police barricade was broken through, officers fired tear gas, stun grenades and live rounds in a bid to restore order.

It is estimated that there are about 18,000 asylum seekers from Eritrea in Israel. They say they fled danger, persecution and compulsory military conscription in one of the world's most repressive countries.