Ethiopian Jews protest in Jerusalem
Wire Services | September 12, 2006
JERUSALEM - Israelis of Ethiopian origin on Tuesday protested the government's decision to reduce the number of members of the Falash Mura allowed to immigrate to Israel from 330 a month to 150.
Protesting outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, the Falashmura, Ethiopians who claim they were forced to convert from Judaism, said the government failed to deliver on its promise of facilitating the immigration of the Ethiopian Jews from the African nation.
The Falash Mura say they are embracing a religion their forebearers were forced to give up for Christianity in the 19th century. Israel, however, does not recognize them as Jewish, and they do not qualify for Israeli citizenship until they convert to Judaism under an Orthodox Jewish process that takes up to two years. About 20,000 members already live in Israel.
Writing in the past in the Jewish Daily Vitta Bekker reported
American Jewish philanthropic leaders were vowing to fight Israel’s recent decision to postpone a plan to increase the rate of Ethiopian immigration.
Citing budgetary difficulties, a government ministerial committee decided to postpone talks on doubling the number of Ethiopian immigrants to 600 a month until priorities are set for Israel’s 2007 budget. The delay came despite a commitment by former prime minister Ariel Sharon 18 months ago to double the immigration rate, and despite subsequent government assurances that the new plan — hailed at the time as a breakthrough — would be implemented in June 2005.
But so far Sharon’s promise has not been fulfilled, despite thousands of Ethiopians living in poor conditions while they wait to immigrate. They are part of what’s known as the Falash Mura, Jews who are now returning to Judaism after their ancestors converted to Christianity.
The delay threatens to create a rift between Israel and leaders of local Jewish charitable federations, many of whom have taken a strong interest in the plight of the Ethiopians and have been raising funds to help Israel bear the cost of the stepped-up immigration plan.
Encouraged by Sharon’s decision, United Jewish Communities — the national roof body of federations in North America — had started a $160 million fund-raising campaign called Operation Promise. About $100 million of the total is aimed at covering the costs of Ethiopian immigration. More than $60 million of Operation Promise has been raised already, UJC officials say.
“Even if it’s a financial issue now, Sharon’s government told us to move ahead. So we’ve gone to our communities and told them that it’s going to be increased to 600,” said Robert Goldberg, chairman of UJC, in an interview with the Forward. “These people in Ethiopia have a terrible life and want to come to Israel.”
Some Jewish federation leaders say that the delay could sour relations between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.
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JERUSALEM - Israelis of Ethiopian origin on Tuesday protested the government's decision to reduce the number of members of the Falash Mura allowed to immigrate to Israel from 330 a month to 150.
Protesting outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, the Falashmura, Ethiopians who claim they were forced to convert from Judaism, said the government failed to deliver on its promise of facilitating the immigration of the Ethiopian Jews from the African nation.
The Falash Mura say they are embracing a religion their forebearers were forced to give up for Christianity in the 19th century. Israel, however, does not recognize them as Jewish, and they do not qualify for Israeli citizenship until they convert to Judaism under an Orthodox Jewish process that takes up to two years. About 20,000 members already live in Israel.
Writing in the past in the Jewish Daily Vitta Bekker reported
American Jewish philanthropic leaders were vowing to fight Israel’s recent decision to postpone a plan to increase the rate of Ethiopian immigration.
Citing budgetary difficulties, a government ministerial committee decided to postpone talks on doubling the number of Ethiopian immigrants to 600 a month until priorities are set for Israel’s 2007 budget. The delay came despite a commitment by former prime minister Ariel Sharon 18 months ago to double the immigration rate, and despite subsequent government assurances that the new plan — hailed at the time as a breakthrough — would be implemented in June 2005.
The delay threatens to create a rift between Israel and leaders of local Jewish charitable federations, many of whom have taken a strong interest in the plight of the Ethiopians and have been raising funds to help Israel bear the cost of the stepped-up immigration plan.
Encouraged by Sharon’s decision, United Jewish Communities — the national roof body of federations in North America — had started a $160 million fund-raising campaign called Operation Promise. About $100 million of the total is aimed at covering the costs of Ethiopian immigration. More than $60 million of Operation Promise has been raised already, UJC officials say.
“Even if it’s a financial issue now, Sharon’s government told us to move ahead. So we’ve gone to our communities and told them that it’s going to be increased to 600,” said Robert Goldberg, chairman of UJC, in an interview with the Forward. “These people in Ethiopia have a terrible life and want to come to Israel.”
Some Jewish federation leaders say that the delay could sour relations between Israel and Diaspora Jewry.
ETHIOMEDIA.COM - ETHIOPIA'S PREMIER NEWS AND VIEWS WEBSITE
© COPYRIGHT 20001-2006ETHIOMEDIA.COM. EMAIL: webmaster@ethiomedia.com
