Over the past few months, political and educational leaders have been working with rabbis and Ethiopian religious leaders to put together the nation's first set of guidelines to solve the painful question of bringing the families of Ethiopian immigrants to Israel.
While many Ethiopian Jews have made aliyah, the Falash Mura – Ethiopian and Eritrean Jews who converted to Christianity – remained behind, and are not permitted to make aliyah under the Law of Return. Many live in dire poverty, according to a document outlining the framework plan obtained by Israel Hayom.
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"The steps the Israeli government has taken over the years were a response to political pressures, and it has difficulty making decisions about the people waiting in Ethiopia. The government has no clear policy," the document states.
"Thus far, there is no one entity that knows exactly how many people are waiting in Ethiopia [to come to Israel]. They number between 7,000 and 14,000. In light of this, the state institutions prefer to avoid dealing with the matter," the document continues.
The authors of the guidelines are slated to present it to Immigrant Absorption Minister Penina Tamanu-Shata next week. Right now, final adjustments are being made that have to do with the Falash Mura, a complex issue within the Ethiopian Israeli community itself. The plan calls on the government to set up a public council that will decide on policy for the Ethiopians waiting to come to Israel, collect their personal details, and list the criteria for them to make aliyah.
The plan will provide an official answer for Ethiopians who are denied aliyah status, which will clear up any uncertainty. In addition, the authors of the plan want the aliyah process for approved Ethiopian olim to begin from Ethiopia, where they will receive Hebrew language instruction and professional training, as well as preparation for conversion.
The impetus for the plan was last year's violent wave of protests by Ethiopian Israelis.
"People waiting there are being hugely wronged, and the issue isn't being handled properly because of [their] skin color, in addition to questions about [their] Judaism," says one activist.
"The fact that people are there and aren't being told whether they can or can't make aliyah is a disgrace. This insanity has to stop," the activist said.
The criteria for aliyah include the applicants being descendants of Jews, confirmation from community elders or religious leaders, membership in a recognized community made up of people who were forced to convert to other religions or who suffer from anti-Semitic persecution, and a desire to return to Judaism and undergo conversion.
