Mother and son during demonstration
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Ethiopian immigrants return to absorption center
Agreement reached with Jewish Agency prompts dozens of Falash Mura members protesting absorption conditions outside Prime Minister's Office to head back to Kibbutz Beit Alfa
Going home for Yom Kippur fast. Two days after settling outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem in protest
of the harsh conditions in their absorption center and their difficult economic situation, dozens of Ethiopian immigrants agreed Wednesday to adhere to the Jewish Agency and Immigrant Absorption Ministry's call, and return to the Beit Alfa absorption center.
The immigrants, members of the Falash Mura communities, slept outside the PM's Office without blankets or mattresses to lie on. They presented a grave situation: Shameful poverty and obstacles in their attempts to overcome it.
The protestors were driven back to the northern Israel kibbutz on six buses.
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The Jewish Agency began dealing with the situation only after the demonstration was underway. Knesset Member Shlomo Mula (Kadima) called on the protestors on Tuesday to end the demonstration.
"I urge the elements behind the struggle to stop making political capital on children's backs," he said.
According to the agreement reached between the protestors and the Jewish Agency and Absorption Ministry, the immigrants will receive their unpaid national insurance pensions on Sunday.
In addition, an external element will examine their living conditions in Beit Alfa and report to the ministry and Jewish Agency. Children will receive additional transportation and the air conditioning in the absorption centers will be improved.
Six families protesting in Jerusalem refused to believe the agreement and chose to remain outside the PM's Office throughout Yom Kippur.
Taka, who decided to stay in the capital with his four children, said, "I don’t want to stay in the place anymore and I don’t believe any agreement. I have had more than enough with the Jewish Agency and Absorption Ministry. We have suffered enough, and my family and I won't go back there."
On the other hand, Watatu, who ascended one of the buses heading back to the kibbutz, expressed his satisfaction with the demonstration's results.
"We feel better and agree with the deal reached with the Absorption Ministry and Agency. I believe everything will be okay now," he said.
The Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews said it would continue monitoring the situation at the absorption center.
