Protesting immigrants hold brit on PM Office lawn

Ethiopian, Falashmura immigrants enter 12th day of demonstrations against conditions of their absorption in northern kibbutz; Eli Yishai plays role of godfather in circumcision ceremony held in protest tent
Yael Branovsky

Ethiopian immigrants residing in Kibbutz Beit Alfa, near Beit She'an, have been protesting for 12 days in front of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.

The protestors claim the Immigrant Absorption Ministry and the Jewish Agency have been ignoring the difficult conditions in which they are forced to live, as well as their cries for help.

Circumcision ceremony held in protest tent (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The immigrants, who receive food and supplies daily from private donors, held a circumcision ceremony on Sunday, in the tent of a woman who gave birth there last week. Despite the difficulties, many of the immigrants plan to continue the demonstration.

Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, who undertook the office of godfather during the circumcision, told Ynet that immediately after the election he plans to bring the plight of the Ethiopian immigrants and the Falashmura back under the limelight.

"I won't tolerate any other policy when it comes to bringing Jews here. Unfortunately some of the treatment of these olim derives from their place of birth," he said.

However some of the immigrants resent their protest becoming a public relations free-for-all in the wake of the pre-election scramble. Avi Maspin, spokesman for the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews (IAEJ) said he hoped the circumcision would help remind leaders that many children were still in danger.

"Dozens of kids have been here almost two weeks. They are in immediate life-threatening danger due to the proximity to the road, the Jerusalem cold, and the lack of basic necessities. The Absorption Ministry and the Jewish Agency just choose to ignore their existence."

In response to the protest, the Absorption Ministry called on the immigrants to respect an agreement the IAEJ signed, in which they promised to wait a little over a week for the results of an investigation committee on the issue. The committee is currently discussing possible solutions for the improvement of the absorption of the immigrants in the kibbutz.