World Notes Israel

"Like any other country, we expel illegal aliens." So said Yitzhak Agassi, an official in Israel's Interior Ministry, of the ministry's plan to kick out 46 American-born members of the Black Hebrew sect for overstaying their visas.

Since 1969, more than 1,200 members of the Black Hebrews, led by former Chicago Bus Driver Ben-Ami Carter, 41, have traveled from the U.S. to settle in Israel. Although they reject Jewish religious law and rabbinical authority, they claim to be descended from ancient Hebrew tribes and thus entitled to live in Israel. After studying the matter, Israel's Chief Rabbinate concluded that it could not substantiate their claim for residency. The group asked Israel's Supreme Court to block the government's expulsion order, but last week the court ruled that the government had acted lawfully.