Olmert: Discrimination against Ethiopians not isolated phenomenon
Prime minister addresses the recently uncovered discrimination against Ethiopian students in Israeli school and calls for the teachers to conclude negotiations by the end of the Hanukkah break
Addressing the recent news report on anti-Ethiopian discrimination at a Petah Tikva school, Prime Minister Ehud OImert opened the weekly cabinet meeting by admitting to cabinet members that the problem belongs not just to one school or area in Israel. "These news items only add to the general feelings of distress among the Ethiopian community in Israel," he said.
"I cannot say that that this feeling is disconnected from reality, or that it is common in only one place in Israel and everywhere else everything is fine," Olmert added. "The sense of injustice felt by Ethiopian Jews is something we must change."
The prime minister promised that next month the cabinet will approve a comprehensive plan to solve some of the problems faced by the Ethiopian immigrant community in Israel.
'End negotiations'
Olmert also referred to the ongoing teachers' strike, saying "after the decision of the National Labor Court, I am once again saying to the teachers that I wish not to defeat them nor harm their status. I call on you to conclude the negotiations with the Education and Finance Ministries before the end of Hanukkah. I plan to personally take part in these negotiations."
His remarks signified a changed stance from a prime minister who has in the past refused speaking to the teachers directly.
"There is no doubt that since 2003 there have been painful cuts in education funding. We have been gradually increasing funding since last year. Recently, (Education) Minister Tamir, with massive support from Finance, has been working to raise the education budget by NIS 5 billion ($1.5 billion), increase teachers salaries between 26-34%, and to build 80,000 new classrooms which will change the face of Israeli education," he said.
