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This is how the diplomatic crisis with Addis Ababa was resolved Israel today

2022-06-01T16:33:04.164Z


The Ethiopian authorities have long delayed the issuance of passports to those waiting to immigrate to the immigrant camps, but the crisis ended with the mediation of the Minister of Immigration and Absorption and MK Gadi Yabarkan.


A plane carrying about 200 Ethiopian immigrants landed this afternoon (Wednesday) at Ben Gurion Airport with Minister of Aliyah and Absorption Pnina Temanu Sheta and acting Jewish Agency Chairman Yaakov Hagoel. Bringing the immigrants is part of Operation Tzur Israel In the camps in Gondar and Addis Ababa.

The campaign is launched with the help of donations from the Jewish federations in North America, Keren Hayesod, the Friendship Foundation and donors and friends who love Israel from around the world.

The immigrants were received in a solemn ceremony and reunited with their families after many years of disconnection.

Operation "Create Israel" resumed today after a diplomatic crisis between the State of Israel and Addis Ababa.

The Ethiopian authorities, affected by a number of steps taken by Israel, decided in response to delay the issuance of passports for those awaiting immigration, and the issue was resolved only thanks to significant efforts in which MK Gadi Yabarkan, Minister Tamano Sheta, and the Foreign and Prime Ministerial Ministries took part.

MK Gadi Yabarkan (second from the right) in an immigrant camp in Ethiopia, Photo: None

The crisis began with an embarrassing incident in which 77 Ethiopian citizens were brought to Israel in a covert operation with the participation of the Mossad, whose lives were allegedly feared due to the war in the Tigray region.

However, after their aliyah it became clear that most of them were Christians who had nothing to do with Judaism, and many of them even fully admitted that they were not in danger and simply sought to find work in Israel.

Moreover, the Ethiopian government was outraged after the names of the immigrants became clear to it, claiming that some of them had taken part in the fighting against it in the ranks of the Matigra rebels.

A few months later, another problem arose when the Israeli government piled difficulties on the entry into the country of pilgrims from Ethiopia who wanted to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem. 

Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata welcomes immigrants from Ethiopia at the airport, Photo: Noga Melsa

In response, the authorities in Addis Ababa decided to delay the issuance of passports to those entitled to immigration, and in addition the whole process was also slowed down for procedural reasons, following the replacement of senior officials in the Ethiopian Population Authority.

During a visit to the country by a humanitarian delegation of Israeli doctors, led by MK Yabarkan, a letter was sent to him by representatives waiting for aliyah to try to solve the problem. Yabarkan, who maintains close ties with the Ethiopian government, immediately contacted At the same time, the Minister of Immigration and Absorption, Pnina Temano-Sheta, exerted heavy pressure on the Foreign Ministry to intervene in the matter, and even used her full political weight to harness the Israeli government to the aliyah operation.

Following the diplomatic pressures and diplomatic efforts of Temno-Sheta and Yabarkan, with the intensive assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office, the crisis with the Ethiopian authorities was finally resolved. As mentioned, to Israel on the first flight, and in the coming months the Ethiopians have pledged to issue passports to the other 2,700 waiters, who are expected to immigrate to Israel gradually by the fall.

"Long journey over"

Operation "Create Israel" is renewed by virtue of the government decision in November 2021 led by the Minister, and in the coming months 3,000 waiters will increase.

In the first phase of Operation Tzur Israel, 2,000 new immigrants immigrated to Israel, following a government decision.

The new immigrants, as will be part of the operation, will be transferred to the five absorption centers established by the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption for the arrival of "Tzur Israel" immigrants.

In order to adapt quickly to the new immigrants in Israeli society, the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption was prepared with extensive absorption programs in Hebrew studies, vocational guidance, rapid integration into the education system, and an emotional and medical envelope.

MK Emily Moati: MK Gadi Yabarkan helped solve the problem of immigrants with the Ethiopian authorities

At the ceremony at the airport, Minister Tamano Sheta said: 'Five hours of flying to reduce decades of waiting.

A five-hour flight that ends a long journey and a new journey begins here in Israel.

Five hours flight when we have the duty to finish the rejection episode and start the reception route.

A five-hour flight that unites families after a long and terrible disconnect.

"It is no secret that it took a stubborn struggle to continue Operation Tzur Yisrael to raise Ethiopian Jews. Anyone who does not meet the families and talk to the mothers who are there will not understand the magnitude of the incident. But the incident is big and important and my duty within the Israeli government is to do everything to bring "

On the way from Ethiopia to Israel


in five hours


these sweets will be Israelis🇮🇱!

pic.twitter.com/AxKQkkCeTz

- Pnina Tamnu Sheta (@pnina_tamano_sh) June 1, 2022

The chairman of the World Zionist Organization and the acting chairman of the Jewish Agency, Yaakov Hagoel:

For more than a decade, thousands of family members have been eagerly awaiting reunification with their families in Israel and the beginning of their lives in an old-new land.

Today, the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption are taking part in an operation that will enter as a groundbreaking event in the history books of the Jewish people.

"300 new immigrants, as part of Operation Tzur Israel, will land in the land of the fathers this week and unite with their family, people and homeland."

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-06-01

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