Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., May 23, 2008 Iyyar 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:46 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Ethiopian immigrants protesting discrimination, carrying signs reading 'stop the apartheid' and 'stop the racism' in Petah Tikva last week. (Nir Keidar) Last update - 14:48 27/12/2007 Groups appeal state bid to wrap up mass Ethiopian immigration By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Falashmura, Ethiopians  Petitioners took action Wednesday against the planned return next week of Interior Ministry officials stationed in Ethiopia - a step toward ending mass emigration from the country to Israel. The petitioners asked the court to defer Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit's decision to recall the officials pending the High Court's decision on a separate petition calling for Israel to issue another 8,000 immigration permits to the Falashmura, Ethiopians who claim Jewish ancestry. Wednesday's petition was filed by the organization Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry and relatives of would-be immigrants from Ethiopia. Advertisement According to a government decision from 2006, the Jewish Agency is slated to stop its activities on immigration from Ethiopia by June, when the last group of immigrants issued with permits arrives in Israel. Last week, Sheetrit held a meeting reviewing all the remaining applicants for immigration to Israel. But petitioners say thousands of Falashmura who under the Law of Return have the right to immigrate remain in temporary camps, waiting permission to move here. To date, some 30,000 Falashmura have immigrated to Israel, where they have undergone strict Jewish conversion. Despite efforts to bring the remaining Falashmura to Israel over the years, their numbers keep growing. At the moment, some 8,000 people claiming Jewish descent and asking to immigrate to Israel still populate camps in Ethiopia's remote Gondar province. Jewish Agency officials say the process has become rife with corruption and that many non-Jewish Ethiopians have claimed Jewish ties to immigrate to Israel, where they later revert to Christianity. Related articles: 1,000 Ethiopian immigrants protest plans to halt Falash Mura aliyah Ethiopian immigrants protesting discrimination block Petah Tikva streets Segregation at Petah Tikva religious school Bookmark to del.icio.us   Say what you want French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous. Peace in our time Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national duty'.   1.   Israel will have a problem, if these ethiopian 04:17  |  cristo 27/12/07   2.   let them in 07:38  |  Mike 27/12/07   3.   Mike #2 08:08  |  Judith 27/12/07   4.   Falashmurra Petitions 08:32  |  Noam 27/12/07   5.   #1 cristo. Where is your proof? 09:02  |  Maureen Ann 27/12/07   6.   The Falashmura are economic opportunists and are not Jewish 12:00  |  Moshe 27/12/07   7.   Ethiopian Jewish rabbis say that the Falashmura are not Jewish 12:06  |  M 27/12/07   8.   Ethiopian absorption a failure--why add to the problem? 12:22  |  Israeli 27/12/07   9.   Please explain 12:50  |  Joe 27/12/07   10.   To cristo (Christ?) 14:39  |  Local 27/12/07   11.   To Joe (Please explain) 14:49  |  Israeli 27/12/07   12.   Israel; learn from the non-Jewish Russian immigration 15:58  |  Alicia 27/12/07   13.   NOT A SINGLE ETHIOPIAN IS JEWISH!!! NOT A SINGLE ONE!!! 20:27  |  Tom 27/12/07   14.   Joe....nr9 21:34  |  leon 27/12/07   15.   Tom nr 13 21:35  |  leon 27/12/07   16.   answer to christo 08:59  |  addis 28/12/07   17.   Falasha practiced ancient judiasim 05:27  |  leoul 29/12/07   18.   Falasha practiced ancient judaism 06:20  |  Tamrat 06/02/08   19.   hey 20:40  |  Yael 23/05/08

Read & React Bradley Burston: The Palestinians' time is running out Responses: 215 West backs Lebanese gov't capitulation to Hezbollah Responses: 102 Obama promises 'unshakable commitment' to Israel if elected Responses: 110 Iran reportedly irate over Israel-Syria peace talks Responses: 77 McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' jibe Responses: 64 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guests: can "decisive victory" against guerilla achieved? Blame the Israel Lobby for Clinton's loss? (WTR) Poll: Peace between Israel & Syria? Should American Jews Embrace Living Double Lives? Why Obama needs Florida Jews? (WTR) More Headlines 20:10 Iran reportedly irate over Israel-Syria peace talks 16:55 Palestinians: IDF kills 5 in Gaza; soldier hurt by anti-tank missile 20:10 Olmert: Not sure how long I'll be PM, but won't give up peace talks 12:52 Olmert questioned for second time; Talansky to testify Tuesday 20:12 Israeli settlement expansion can't be justified, French FM says 19:59 Obama promises 'unshakable commitment' to Israel if elected 09:14 McCain rejects pastor's support after 'God sent Hitler' comment 16:32 Amid talks, Golan gets first mall, and development booms 20:11 Secret Holocaust hero has reputation restored in new books, film 10:17 Israeli Arab driver critically hurt by guard at W. Bank settlement 13:44 Over $1 billion pledged for Palestinian projects in Bethlehem conference 12:12 Tough characters take root in Dead Sea area, celebrated by a new plant guide Previous Editions Select Day 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may

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