Israel's interior minister says the country intends to grant citizenship to some of the hundreds of refugees from Sudan's troubled Darfur region already in Israel.
Meir Sheetrit said Wednesday he has been working with the United Nations on establishing a quota of refugees who would become Israeli citizens.
Israel estimates at least 1,100 Sudanese from the troubled Darfur region have crossed illegally into the country from Egypt in recent years.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in July most of the illegal migrants would be deported, but said refugees whose lives are in danger may be allowed to stay.
More than four years of fighting between rebels, the government and militia groups in Darfur has killed an estimated 200,000 people and displaced more than two million others.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
