500 Ethiopian Immigrants arrive in Israel after years of effort. They are greeted by the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. 14,000 Ethiopians are still waiting to move to Israel.
Immigration minister arrives in Ethiopia to airlift 500 Jews to Israel
Around 14,000 Ethiopians with Jewish heritage are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to relocate to Israel, yet the government has only given approval for 2,000 thus far. In a historic move, Israel’s first cabinet member of Ethiopian descent, Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, arrived in Ethiopia over the weekend to lead the effort in airlifting 500 members of the Jewish community to Israel this week.
Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic and the recent conflict in the northern Tigray region, the government’s decision to airlift just 2,000 individuals in January 2021 has left thousands still hoping for their chance to make the journey to Israel.
Minister Tamano-Shata expressed her commitment to ending the prolonged wait for those in Ethiopia, a situation she described as an enduring injustice that has caused untold emotional suffering and family separation for decades. As she embarked on this crucial mission, she emphasized the significance of fulfilling the ancestral dream for these 500 individuals to finally reach Jerusalem.
“The government of Israel cannot turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters who have been patiently waiting in Ethiopia,” she declared. “This injustice must be rectified, and I will not rest until every single individual awaiting their turn to immigrate has the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones in Israel.”
Local activists estimate that approximately 9,000 of the prospective immigrants have endured a wait of 15 years or more, with a significant portion residing in Addis Ababa for over two decades. The remaining hopefuls in Gondar have been holding on to their dreams of immigrating for 15 to 20 years. The urgency of addressing this situation and providing a pathway for these individuals to fulfill their long-awaited journey to Israel is paramount in the efforts spearheaded by Minister Tamano-Shata and her team.
