Over 3,000 Ethiopian Israelis gathered this week outside the Prime Minister’s Office and the Aliyah and Integration Ministry in Jerusalem, holding a peaceful but passionate demonstration to demand immediate action to bring their family members still stranded in Ethiopia.
With chants of “Bring our families home!” and signs reading “One nation, one people – Ethiopian Jews are part of Israel,” demonstrators accused the government of delaying the aliyah process for thousands of Ethiopian Jews – many of whom have waited decades to reunite with relatives in Israel.
Organizers said the protest was not only about immigration policy but also about justice, dignity, and equality.
“We have proven our loyalty, our sacrifice, our contribution to this country,” said Gabi Worku and Rabbi Yosef Hadane, leaders of the demonstration. “Why are our families still in danger, still suffering, and still waiting in Gondar and Addis Ababa, while other groups are flown in immediately?”
For many in the Ethiopian Jewish community, the situation is deeply personal. Protesters shared painful stories of family members left behind – elderly parents, children, and siblings – still living in waiting compounds or unsafe conditions in Ethiopia. Despite Israeli government promises, many say they feel ignored by successive administrations.
Israel's double standards
The community has long expressed concern over double standards in Israel’s immigration policies. While large waves of immigrants from Ukraine, Russia, and other countries have been welcomed in recent years, Ethiopian families report facing years of bureaucratic delays, shifting criteria, and political indifference.
“Israel has the power to act but lacks the will,” said Dvora Shiferaw, a second-generation Ethiopian Israeli from Netanya. “If these people were from Europe, they’d already be here.”
According to official estimates, over 7,000 people of Ethiopian Jewish descent remain in Ethiopia, most living in designated waiting areas in Gondar and Addis Ababa. Many of them have first-degree relatives who are already Israeli citizens. Despite multiple Knesset resolutions and government promises, the pace of their arrival has been painfully slow.
Government representatives argue that the process is complicated by legal classifications, financial constraints, and security concerns. They maintain that all individuals must be vetted carefully before receiving entry approval. But community leaders say the delay is both unjustified and dangerous.
Referring to ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia, I declared to the gathering that there is war and instability in Ethiopia. Our people are not safe. Everyone on the approved lists has immediate family members in Israel and must be brought immediately. As Jewish law commands us: if you can save even one life from imminent danger, you must act without delay. This is not just a policy failure – it is a moral failure.
At the rally, letters from youth still waiting in Ethiopia were read aloud, and messages from separated family members were displayed, drawing tears from many in the crowd. The demonstration concluded with a peaceful march to the Knesset liaison office, where participants delivered a formal petition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, and Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, urging them to authorize an emergency airlift for those left behind.
Several MKs – including Tsega Melaku, Pnina Tameno-Shete, David Amsalem, and Moshe Solomon – were present to hear the community’s plea. But many attendees expressed frustration that these same MKs have attended similar rallies for years, with little to no progress made.
As the sun set over Jerusalem, the crowd stood united and sang “Hatikvah.” For them, hope is not a slogan. It is a sacred promise – that every Jew, regardless of skin color or origin, has a home in Israel.
The writer is an international educator, community activist, and diplomacy expert. He has served in the Israel Police and represented the Knesset on matters of international public affairs.