Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., March 17, 2008 Adar2 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:00 (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 Office in Jerusalem, in 2006. (Daniel Bar On / BauBau) Last update - 10:55 16/03/2008 Falashmura slam gov't treatment of immigration applications By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Ethiopian, Falashmura, Israel  Falashmura seeking to immigrate to Israel from Ethiopia's Gondar region submitted numerous complaints about their treatment to State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who visited Ethiopia last week at the request of the Knesset State Control Committee. Some Falashmura said they had been waiting more than ten years for a response to their immigration application. Lindenstrauss was acting under the committee's instructions to probe the treatment of the Ethiopian community by successive Israeli governments. He visited a compound in the northern region where thousands of Falashmura are awaiting approval for their immigration applications. Advertisement There has generally been only one consular official to handle thousands of applicants, the Falashmura said, and the Interior Ministry has refused to consider the applications of some 8,500 people who, they claim, meet the government's criteria. They also stated that the Israeli compound suffers from shortages of food and basic medical equipment, resulting in infant deaths. Furthermore, the Falashmura complained that since former interior minister Natan Sharansky's visit in 2000, no other senior government figure has been in contact with them. For its part, the Interior Ministry has pointed to one case where it did not succeed in locating 650 people who were on a list of names which had been checked, but according to the Falashmura, a large number of this group was were in fact situated in the compound. The Falashmura also characterized the relationship with the Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa as one of alienation. The government decided over a year ago that by June this year it would stop bringing over Falashmura and close its offices in Ethiopia. At this point the last 800 members of the community whose immigration requests had been approved would be brought over, and the rest would remain in Gondar. About a month ago, the Interior Ministry recalled from Ethiopia its representatives who were involved in checking the applications. The ministry has stated that from now on, whoever whishes to immigrate will need to send their request to Israel for consideration. An organization of Ethiopian immigrants together with American-Jewish groups are attempting to reverse the government decision via a petition to the High Court, and a Knesset bill. Related articles: Ethiopia closes last camp for Falashmura emigration Gov't okays program to help Ethiopian immigrants integrate better Interior Ministry closes down Ethiopian aliyah operation More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   The Chancellor's visit Angela Merkel arrives in Israel to 'open new chapter' in bilateral ties. London paying Netanyahu says PR trip to U.K. wasn't funded by Israeli taxpayer.

Today Online IAF resumes Gaza strikes, kills 3 Islamic Jihad men Responses: 181 Gideon Levy: Barak trying his best to ruin peace process Responses: 112 Netanyahu: I acted for the state, not at its expense Responses: 97 Obama asked to explain after his minister 'damns' America Responses: 155 Rosner's Domain If you marry them, you have a better chance of keeping them State Department: UN measures fuel anti-Semitism (WTR) Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Neocons and the cultural proclivity of Jews (WTR) General Fraser and the third whiner More Headlines 05:48 Next IAF chief: IDF's entry into Gaza will stop rocket manufacture 03:09 22 right-wing activists detained after storming E. J'lem village 06:43 Court case reveals how settlers illegally grab W. Bank lands 21:56 PA to rebuild home of W. Bank militant leader killed in IDF raid 05:57 Ashkelon to have longer warning time before rocket fall 06:00 MKs did not okay Netanyahu's luxurious PR trip to London 06:01 3rd century amulet found; earliest sign of Jews in Austria 05:41 Georgian Israelis to Merkel: Don't block NATO entry 19:31 Fischer: Bank of Israel to avoid meddling in int'l currency market 03:59 Court remands man accused of raping mentally disabled woman 23:28 Holocaust survivors march from Krakow ghetto to mark 65 years since liquidation 04:05 Arab woman survives honor killing, avoids being 9th victim in family 04:09 Illegal immigrants' clinic closes in protest of state's inactivity Previous Editions Select Day 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar 04 mar 03 mar

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