Ethiopian Jewish Member of Knesset Avraham Neguise of the Likud Party reportedly said that even though he supports the effort to improve absorption, he had concerns. I want to see ”detailed plans rather than just lines and rules presented,” Neguise.
Government Approves Funding For Ethiopian Jewish Integration
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Israel’s Ministerial Committee to promote the integration of Ethiopian Jews into Israeli society approved 300 million shekels (just over $78 million) today to more fully integrate Ethiopian Jews, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Ethiopian Jews say they are widely discriminated against by police, government offices and parts of Israeli society at large. Police and the have government deny this, despite the large amount of evidence showing the discrimination exists.
This summer’s wave of sometimes violent anti-police protests by Ethiopian Jews staged after a seemingly unprovoked attack by a police officer against an Ethiopian IDF soldier that was caught on security camera footage – footage police never looked for – prompted the increased funding for integration.
Existing programs for Israeli-born Ethiopian Jews will reportedly be moved from the notoriously incompetent Ministry of Absorption to other government ministries with the goal of increasing Ethiopian Jews’ access to education and healthcare along with providing government services to the Ethiopian Jewish community at a higher level. The number of Ethiopian Jewish teachers will be increased with the aim of increasing the number of Ethiopian Jewish students who graduate from high school. Schools that have a high proportion of Ethiopian Jewish students will receive increased government funding.
Many of these changes will be overseen by a committee made up of at least 50% Ethiopian Jews – a first. Until now, Ethiopian Jews – even Ethiopian Jewish academics and professionals – have largely been left out of the absorption process by the government.
But all was not rosy at the ministerial committee’s meeting.
Social Services Minister Haim Katz of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party missed most of the meeting, showing up only right before it ended, allegedly as a photo op, prompting Netanyahu to lash out at him.
“Where is he, in the protest tent? It is a disgrace that the welfare minister does not come to this discussion,” Netanyahu said angrily.
Last week, Katz joined West Bank Jewish settlers in a demonstration held outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem. The settlers set up a protest tent there. It is doubtful Netanyahu would have chastised Katz if Katz had not joined that anti-Netanyahu protest a few days before.
Ethiopian Jewish Member of Knesset Avraham Neguise of the Likud Party reportedly said that even though he supports the effort to improve absorption, he had concerns.
I want to see ”detailed plans rather than just lines and rules presented,” Neguise.