The first group Ethiopian immigrants to move to Israel in the past three years will arrive at Ben-Gurion airport on Sunday evening, almost a year after the government first approved the immigration of 9,000 Jews still left in Ethiopia, officials say.
On Sunday, 78 Ethiopian Jews will arrive in Israel to a festive welcome.
“The tickets are bought, the absorption centers are ready, and we’re going to welcome them with open arms on Sunday,” says Likud MK David Amsalem’s spokesman, Nimrod Sabbah.
The move comes as Ethiopia is dealing with widespread violent anti-government protests, the most significant civil unrest in decades, centered in the Oromo and Amhara regions.
Gondar, which is home to approximately 6,000 of the 9,000 Jews still left in Ethiopia, is located in the Amhara region.
Times of Israel blogger Micha Oddenheimer witnessed some of the protests first-hand while in Ethiopia in August.
Last November, the government approved absorption of 9,000 Ethiopian immigrants, but the plan faltered because there was no budget allocated for it.
— Melanie Lidman
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