The Ethiopian roller coaster: can you decide already?

It was only a matter of time, and everybody knew it was coming. That is - everybody who takes the time to read this blog. In the beginning of January - when it became evident that Ariel Sharon would not recover and return to his position as Prime Minister - I wrote this:

"There is some concern though, regarding the future of the Falash Mura project which the Israeli government decided on following heavy lobbying by some U.S. Jewish leaders. Sharon was a big supporter of the decision to let between 10,000 and 18,000 Ethiopians come to Israel in the following months, but, obviously, he won't be able to pursue this decision. The other major supporter, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, has lost power as the Likud is no longer the ruling party in Israel. On the other hand, Tzipi Livni, who opposed the Falash Mura adventure vehemently, has more influence now, and so has the Finance Ministry, headed by Olmert, that was blamed for dragging its feet on the implementation of the government decision."

Fast forward to this last summer: a delegation of American Jewish leaders visiting Israel raised questions about the government's failure to increase the monthly immigration quota from 300 to 600 as promised. Fast forward again: Israel in not only failing to increase the number of Ethiopians coming - but rather is planning to decrease the number from 300 to 150. Why? - because of the Lebanon war. Israel says it needs the money for other, more urgent, things. The special United Jewish Federation campaign entitled "Operation Promise" - which set the goal of raising $100 million to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel and help them settle in - goes down the drain. No wonder they are irritated and angry. So much so, that the chairman of the United Jewish Communities, Robert Goldberg, told The Jewish Week that the proposed cut appeared to have been motivated by "prejudice" rather than money.

Just today, a delegation of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) raised the matter with Prime-Minister Olmert. Three days ago, two Congressmen from New York, Charles Rangel and Jerrold Nadler, sent a letter to Olmert: "A decrease in the rate of entry now, even with the hardships imposed by the Lebanon War would contradict Israel's commitment to promoting family reunification and welcoming Jews in distress." Nadler's spokesperson told me that some members of "his constituency" urged him to act. American Jews.

And you know what? It worked. As always in Israel - no decision is final. True, the decrease in the number of Ethiopian emigrants is part of the 2007 budget draft that the Knesset just approved. But the Cabinet has already decided to overturn it yet again. Containing the protest and the anger of the North American Jewish community was too much headache for the government at this time. So, the number will not be reduced. That is - it will stay at 300 - still short of the promised 600 from last year.

So here's the score:

Loser: UJC who believed in a project that was doomed from the start. Imposing the initial decision on the government of Israel was a mistake (and I know that I'm going to get dozens of letters and calls over this. I wrote it in the past, and had to argue over it many times since. The UJC people are saying that they didn't push for the decision, just for its implementation after it was decided. Israeli officials have a different story to tell).

Loser: The Israeli government. How many more decisions will it have to take before it becomes clear that there's no such thing as final decision in this government.

Winner: UJC which proved yet again that it possesses the power to force the government's hand. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, one of the most vocal opponents to this whole project, can watch with furry but do nothing.

Winner: The Israeli government which used the oldest trick in the book: It pretended to go all the way (150) as to avoid the whole package (600) and really meet half way (300).

Real loser: There are real people over there, you know, waiting for a decision to be made once and for all. If you're going to let them in - do it already! - if you don't, just tell them so, and send them home.