As war itensifies in Ethiopia, a government proposal in Israel seeks the immediate approval of the aliyah of several thousands from the east African country, even though they are not eligible under the Law of Return, Israel Hayom has learned.
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The bill is slated to be presented at the Knesset on Sunday with projected costs of 570 million shekels ($180 million), a budget much bigger than those for immigrants from other countries.
The proposal – if passed – will see the immigration of less than 3,000 people currently awaiting aliyah in camps in the capital Addis Ababa and Gondar. Among the candidates are individuals whose parents, children, or siblings are in Israel, as well as orphans.
If more than 3,000 are found to be eligible, the government will have to approve their aliyah based on budget considerations. Although the proposal calls for the immediate start of the project, delays might occur due to the new Omicron strain recently detected in Israel.
"This is one of the most complex and painful national issues for the Ethiopian community in Israel, which makes it difficult for families to integrate in Israel," the bill states. "Many government decisions led to the entry of only some of those waiting, leaving many behind. Such decision making created a separation between families, between parents and children, between siblings, between grandparents and grandchildren."
In addition, the proposal calls for the creation of a team that will examine the aliyah eligibility of the rest of those waiting in Addis Ababa, Gondar, and other areas of Ethiopia.
Nevertheless, the bill has already received strong opposition.
"It is impossible to allocate such sums to immigrants who are not even eligible [under the Law of Return], and not provide funds to poor immigrants from other countries, like Ukraine and France," one source said. "There are thousands of Jews from low socio-economic backgrounds who refrain from coming to Israel due to a lack of housing support, whereas" this bill calls for much bigger financial grants for potential immigrants from Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Florida's Jewish Federation of Broward County has donated $32,800 to help provide medical care, food, and clean water to Jews in Ethiopia awaiting aliyah.
The funds will help support the efforts of the organization Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry, which is dedicated to supporting Jews remaining in Ethiopia until they are rescued and brought to Israel.
In the past 40 years, Jewish federations have helped more than 92,000 Ethiopian Jews immigrate to Israel.
"Helping Ethiopians and Jews worldwide come home to Israel is one of clearest demonstrations of our love and commitment to the State of Israel, which is central to our core mission," Alan Cohn, chair of the Jewish Federation of Broward County's board of directors, said. "We will not forsake our brothers and sisters at this desperate time."
JNS.org contributed to this report.
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