What is unfortunate is just as Israel tried to rape the Yemenite Jews of their love of Judaism, it has trying to do to the Ethiopian community. Absorption does not mean taking someone's culture and religious beliefs and throwing them away. It is accepting what they have to offer and sharing what you have to offer. Instead they have been met with racism and intolerance. This has also been done to the communities from the former Soviet Union. Israel is a Jewish State. It needs to share its religious and cultural unique ways with our brothers and sisters NOT DESTROY them.

I think it is not a mistake, but they put them in Israel and did not give them the help they needed. They felt lost and still feel that way. There culture is not like ours, but we both are Jews and we should help them!.

Of course it is not a mistake to bring them. But they were let down on arrival dispite past obsorbtion experiences. It is not too late to rectify the mistakes and turn their immigration into an opportunity to benefit all concerned. If Israel takes no positive action then the problems will fester and magnify.

The Israeli government invested over $100,000 in each of these Ethiopian olim, to ensure they could hold a pencil and learn to write, to supply them with housing, to teach them the language, etc. I don't think any country in the world invests that kind of money in new immigrants. Unfortunately, money is not enough. But that does not mean that "Israel tried to rape" the Ethiopians - this is libel. Rather, we are a competitive society that when push comes to shove expects people to pull their own weight, even when they can't. In this regard I believe we've failed to follow up on our Traditional charge as Jews. But it doesn't mean we didn't try. This is a tough country and those who mean well aren't always the ones who make the decisions. But I don't think it's fair to cast everybody into the same die as those who caused harm to these people. The vast majority of Jews who were here in Israel wish the Ethiopian Jews nothing but good, and I believe within a generation you'll see that they've been as integrated into Israeli society as the Edot Hamizrach (Oriental Jews) have.

Its a wider issue then just the Yemenite Jews, It is the fact the the secular ashkanazim ruling elite did not respect the traditions and culture of the Mizrahi Jews. This has lead to all sorts of social problems and resentment, which is one of the reasons for the success of Shas. You would have though they would have learned their lesson, but no , the old mentality still exists unfortunately in small but influencial pockets, the press and the judiciary for instance.

They might be part of a future peace deal with the Palestinians,,,,send them to Ramallah..LOL

They had every right to come to Israel, and it was right to save them and bring them home. Injustice has happened since then, in hiring, in education, in absorption, in racism. Fix THOSE problems rather than doubting whether bringing them was right.

Just the sort of dumb remark we have come to expect from the Rightists on Ynet. You really should , moron.

These are proud people with an ancient culture and identity of their own. These people are in Israel not of their own volition. But they were exchanged for economic aid by the regime of former dictator, Mengistu Hailemariam, when he ran out of funds. There is no reason for them to be treated as second class citizens and unwanteds in Israel. They have a beautiful country, with a beautiful weather and wonderful people - all bestowed upon them by God. Bring them home to the true Israel and Holyland - Ethiopia!

We Jews are all one "mishpachah" - one family, and we must take care of each other. (For sure, no one else will.) The plight of the Ethiopians in Israel is hard, and we should be ashamed that it is so bad, but so is that of poor Israelis of other origins. The problem is that Israeli society has been robbed of its heritage by the money-hungry crowd in the Likud- right wing, who polarized society and pushed the poor even further down under the cover of "energizing the economy" - which energy ended up as money in their own pockets. The left was thrown out of office in the "70's because it had become corrupt and was hurting the people. Now the right has become corrupt and is hurting the people. It's time to return to our Jewish roots, remember that we're all brothers and sisters, and start taking care of each other again, regardless of color, religious choice, country of origin, whatever. Maybe we could even remember that we've been commanded to look out for the "stranger" and start giving Israeli Arabs an even break. What goes around comes around, and recently the Israeli establishment has been sending around pure selfishness. Let's hope it doesn't come back to haunt us.

I dont know what Katzav was thinking saying what he said. Often when he opens his mouth I wonder what he is doing in his position. I personally witnessed in Talpiot Jerusalem thousands upon thousands of ethiopian immigrants converge for theyre annual meeting last December at he Tayelet which was a huge success. They came in all ages and many in their traditional clothing. Many youths in army uniform and it was a wonderful site to see. They are all part of Israels society. I am sure it is tough for many of them but thats no different then to all other immigrants of the past no matter where they came from. You will always have dropouts from every segment of society and thats no reason to pain them all with the same brush questioning whether it was worthwhile or not ingathering ones Jews no matter from where they hail. Ethiopian Jews are wonderful and a loving people and contribute to the wealth of Israels greatly varied culture. And they are equally accepted and loved in Israel. And yes theyre skin may be black but in Israel inspite of what her enemies like to say of it being racial, these Jews are loved no matter what color theyre skin. So Katzav get off your high horse and mingle with the people or do us all a favour and go back to Kiryat Malachi back to the basics of the people.

Maybe if we started to treat them like brothers & sisters we would all be better off. At least these beautiful people convert halachahly & are all Jews!

#7 John is a Jew-hater. John's comment is pure EVIL. The Ethiopians must be given the help they need.

i beleive it is out of good intent that you commented on their return,but do you know what awaits them here?drought,hunger and finally death.it is the us and the international community that have turned the country in to a GOD forbidden land.every one concerned is responsible.if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.has the writer visited the once so calld "promise land" recently?you would be sorry at the injustice being done to this poor people.

Translation: "Don't fix the problem, kill the victims" WTF?????????????? Thank G_d this guy has no actual function. Too bad his salary could feed 10 of these families.