Ethiopians Complain About Poraz's Appointment to Immigration Committee

Monday 14/7/03

By Tovah Lazaroff

Jerusalem Post

Over the objections of a number of ministers and Ethiopian Jewry advocates, the cabinet agreed on Sunday to allow Interior Minister Avraham Poraz (Shinui) to head a ministerial committee on brining out the remaining 19,000 members of the Falash Mura community in Ethiopia, who are facing starvation.

A cabinet decision in February ordered a speedier pace to the community’s immigration and agreed that a committee headed by the interior minister, then Eli Yishai, an advocate of the Falash Mura, to oversee the process.

For Poraz, the government decision Sunday to finally convene the committee, was simply routine.

For advocates of the Ethiopian Jewry, the difference between Yishai and Poraz on this issue is monumental because Poraz has publicly stated his opposition to the immigration, whereas Yishai supported it.

Abraham Neguse, executive director of Southwing to Zion, an Ethiopian advocacy group, told The Jerusalem Post that if, “the prime minister leaves the situation to Poraz, then we do not have a chance.

“Putting Poraz as the chairman of this committee, knowing his position, it looks like the government is not willing to bring these people.”

Neguse is particularly concerned, he said, because 38 refugees have died of starvation and lack of medical attention since the government’s decision. Twelve who died in Gondor in the last month were children, nine of whom were under the age of 10, Neguse said.

He noted that only this weekend, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke passionately many times about the need for immigration, particularly from North America. He wants to know if Israel desires only immigrants from developed countries.

“Here are Jews who are waiting and begging to come to Israel,” Neguse said.

At the cabinet meeting, Tourism Minister Benny Elon (National Union) whose request to join the committee was rejected, similarly said it was illogical to tap Poraz to oversee a process he opposes.

Ethiopian Jewry advocates have filed three petitions before the High Court of Justice hoping to push Poraz to move forward on this issue at a faster pace.

From January to May approximately 1,200 Falash Mura have come to Israel based on criteria set before February’s governmental decision.

Neguse said he fears that soon no more Falash Mura will be allowed to immigrate.

Those awaiting approval in the camps are Falash Mura, Ethiopians of Jewish descent, many of whom converted to Christianity over the past several generations under severe economic and social pressure.

In the past decade they have returned to Judaism and live as observant Jews.

But despite recent and old rabbinical rulings that the Falash Mura are Jews, Poraz has said that he has doubts regarding the Jewish identity of those waiting in the refugee camps.

Minister-without-Portfolio for Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs Natan Sharansky, he had thought that most of Ethiopian Jews had already come and that in implementing this decision, one had to check first to make sure that this would truly be the final wave of Ethiopian Jews.