Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 16, 2008 Nisan 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:58 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Ethiopian immigrants demonstrating across from the prime minister's residence in 2006. (Daniel Bar On / Jini) Last update - 04:22 12/03/2008 Shas urges PM to continue aliyah of Ethiopian Falashmura By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Isral, Ethiopia, Falashmura  Shas ministers have asked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to reverse the decision to halt the aliyah campaign for the Ethiopian Falashmura community. The Falashmura claim Jewish ancestry, despite having converted to Christianity over the years. Shas Chairman Eli Yishai told Haaretz that the immigration should continue according to the criteria set by the Chief Rabbi. "If the state encourages the aliyah of people who aren't [halakhically] Jews from the former U.S.S.R., so why not Ethiopians?" Yishai asked. Advertisement In late 2004, a ministerial panel decided to review the eligibility of 17,000 members of the Falashmura community to make aliyah. The Interior Ministry envoy has recently finished the eligibility checks and returned to Israel last month. There are currently 800 Falashmura awaiting aliyah, which is expected to be complete by June. However, Ethiopian immigrants groups in Israel and the U.S. claim that there are at least another 8000 who meet the criteria set by Rabbi Shlomo Amar. Amar ruled, based on a previous ruling by Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, that the Falashmura are recognized as Jewish, but because "they were assimilated in the last generation," they should be converted nonetheless. "The Falashmura compounds should be put in order," Yishai said. "They cannot be shut down before everyone is brought to Israel; they're in grave danger." "Since when does Israel deny entry to olim?" he added. "The Ethiopians feel it is because of the color of their skin. If Rabbi Amar and the Chief Rabbinate confirmed their Jewishness, we should just bring them." Related articles: Yishai to ask gov't to approve 20,000 Falashmura Ethiopia to shut down emigration compound used by Falashmura Groups appeal state bid to wrap up mass Ethiopian immigration 1,000 Ethiopian immigrants protest plans to halt Falashmura aliyah Bookmark to del.icio.us   Never forget Peres, at Warsaw uprising memorial: Israel will avenge Holocaust through peace. Return to Haifa Provocative new play evokes sympathy for both Jews and Palestinians   1.   The Ethiopian Falashmura....sure theyre Jews. 22:38  |  Stephen. 11/03/08   2.   Used as Slaves! 01:14  |  Atoo 12/03/08   3.   Nonsense Atoo, and irrelevant also 01:41  |  Polybios 12/03/08   4.   # 2 Atoo. Time to get an education, real fast. 01:44  |  Stephen. 12/03/08   5.   Atoo - you can`t accept black people as Jews? Pure prejudice. 02:13  |  Hannah 12/03/08   6.   SHAS in the NEWS ...Shas in the NEWS!!!! 05:13  |  Dr Dave 12/03/08   7.   Two Things 10:11  |  DRC 12/03/08   8.   ethiopian jews are the authentic ones 05:16  |  dynamics 16/04/08

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