Some 4,000 members of the Ethiopian community, whose first-degree relatives are waiting to immigrate to Israel, demonstrate today (Sunday) in front of a cabinet meeting outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, calling for the rescue of Ethiopian Jews.
Demonstration by the Ethiopian community outside the cabinet meeting // Photo: Noga Melsa
The demonstration is being held against the background of the serious security situation in Ethiopia and the reports coming from the country that there is a danger to the lives of Jews waiting to immigrate to Israel.
The Minister of Immigration and Absorption, Pnina Temano Sheta, took part in the demonstration and thousands of demonstrators called on her and encouraged her to continue her efforts to bring up the Ethiopian Jews who are currently in the country.
The demonstrators are calling for the implementation of the government decision from 2015 and for those waiting for Israel to immigrate.
Pnina Tamano-Sheta at the demonstration // Photo: Noga Melsa,
The chairman of the struggle for the upliftment of Ethiopian Jews, Uri Frednik, said: "Ethiopians come from all over the country whose brothers and sisters are in danger of death in the Jewish communities of Addis Ababa and Gondar.
Those waiting are the flesh and blood of the community in Israel.
Their parents, brothers and sisters have been suffering here in the country for decades.
The government must carry out "Operation Solomon 2" and raise all those waiting before a disaster strikes.
"Prime Minister Bennett and Interior Minister Shaked can follow in the footsteps of Begin and Shamir, who ignored the background voices and did the right thing, or be remembered as those who did not prevent a disaster that would change the face of the community in Israel forever."
Crowds demonstrate in front of the Prime Minister's Office // Photo: Noga Melsa,
Surpel Elmo, active in the struggle of his sisters in Ethiopia, said: "My two sisters in Ethiopia have been waiting for almost a decade and are cut off from the family in Israel.
When we were told they would come two months after us, but that did not happen.
We are in anxiety and fear for their lives.
That Prime Minister Bennett will look us in the eye and stop the suffering of thousands of Israeli citizens who fear the worst. "