The Israeli
government has approved entry for thousands of Ethiopians claiming to be of
Jewish descent. Many of them have been waiting to immigrate to Israel for
years.
Deutsche Welle, 15 Nov 2015
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday his government had given the green
light to a proposal allowing more than 9,000 Ethiopians to settle in Israel.
"Today
we have taken an important decision, to bring to Israel within the next five
years the last of the communities with links to Israel waiting in Addis Ababa
and Gonder," Netanyahu said in a statement.
The
Ethiopians in question, the last members of a group known as Falash Mura, claim
Jewish ancestry even though they themselves are Christians, having converted in
the 18th and 19th centuries. For this reason, they are not eligible for Israeli
citizenship.
A tough
life
Many of the
Falash Mura have been living in transit camps for years as they waited for the
Israeli government's approval. The debate over whether to let the Ethiopian
minority in has been going on in Israel for decades.
Around
135,000 Ethiopians live in Israel today, though they often face discrimination
and have fewer opportunities for advancement. The first round of Falash Mura
immigrants were airlifted to Israel in the 1980s and 1990s, following an
official decision made by religious authorities claiming they were descendants
of a biblical tribe.
Israel's
"law of return" gives people with Jewish heritage the right to
resettle there and claim citizenship.
blc/sgb (Reuters, AFP)
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