PM: Only results count in ending racism against Ethiopian Israelis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for steps to strengthen the trust between Ethiopian Israelis and the police, saying that the recommendations of a committee tasked with that goal would be judged on their results and not just the adoption of policies.

Netanyahu made the comments as he chaired an interministerial committee meeting for the advancement of Ethiopian integration into Israeli society.

“The relationship between the police and the [Israeli] public of Ethiopian descent regarding law enforcement is an issue of importance demanding broad and extensive discussion,” Netanyahu said.

During a recent meeting of the committee, every ministry agreed to adopt the recommendations of a study on promoting Ethiopian integration. The sole exception was the police department, which is under the auspices of the Public Security Ministry and which rejected over a dozen proposals on the grounds that it had already implemented them of its own accord.

“There is a need to reinforce the trust between those of Ethiopian descent and the Israel Police,” Netanyahu continued. “There have been very important advances in denouncing racism against those of Ethiopian descent.”

Netanyahu noted the committee had achieved much in the past year, but also stressed that “matters will be assessed on results, not on processes.”

The report was prepared by a team set up earlier this year, comprising leaders of the Ethiopian-Israeli community and senior representatives from various ministries. It was tasked with looking at ways to eradicate purported institutional racism against the community.

Ethiopian Israelis have long accused the police of brutality and abuse. Last summer, the community staged a series of demonstrations across the country, triggered by video footage showing an apparently unprovoked police assault of an Ethiopian-Israeli soldier in April.

Thousands took to the streets demanding the government address alleged systematic and institutionalized racism. Activists also expressed their frustration with what they said was the state’s shortcomings in addressing the quality of life of their community.

At a May 2015 protest in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, at least 41 people were injured in what devolved into an hours-long melee, which saw protesters hurl rocks at police and officers respond with stun grenades and water cannons.

There have been several demonstrations and clashes with police since then against the backdrop of other incidents of alleged discrimination and brutality by police toward Ethiopian-Israelis.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.