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Last update - 21:24 07/04/2008 Global Shtetl - Ethiopia Diary By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: Ethiopian Jewry, Israel  Sunday, April 6, 2008 The Ethiopian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Addis Ababa is packed with Israeli tourists, intent on a holiday in the wild and beautiful country or using Addis as a useful hub to get to other destinations in Africa. The ease with which one can now reach this country reflects how Israel's attitude to Ethiopia has evolved over the last six decades. F Advertisement or the first 25 years of Israel's existence, Ethiopia was an integral part of David Ben-Gurion's vision of "peripheral alliances," ranged against the Arab world. Along with Persia, Turkey, the Kurds and the Lebanese Christians, Ethiopian under Emperor Haile Sellassie, was supposed to be a strategic partner, affording the young state with a much needed staging point to the horn of Africa and beyond. Israel invested heavily in the kingdom and respected the emperor's wishes that the Jewish minority, Beita Yisrael, be left alone. Their appeals to come to Zion were largely ignored by the government. After diplomatic relations were broken off in 1973 and a radical Marxist government had taken over in Addis, the plight of the Jews there took on a different dimension. Menahem Begin saw Israel's relations with the Jewish brethren in apocalyptic dimensions. The state had the duty to save the lives of Jews everywhere, and the Falashas, newly recognized as Halakhic Jews by then Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yossef were the quintessential endangered Jews. No costs were spared and in a series of operations, culminating in the 1991 Operation Solomon, tens of thousands of them were spirited away to Zion. From the early 90s to this day, we have entered a new period. Contrary to the hype around Operation Solomon, the Ethiopian Diaspora has not been liquidated and to make matters more complicated, it's no longer clear whether the tens of thousands clamoring to come are actually Jews. But it's not only the identity of Ethiopian Jews that has changed, from Falashas to Falashmura. Israelis have changed to. The last decade or so has seen the rise of the post-Zionist cult of the individual, and Aliyah for its own sake is not viewed with favor anymore. The gathering of the exiles is no longer a sacred task, but a question of expediency. Olim from Ethiopia are deemed "high maintenance." They don't arrive with any capital of their own, their skills aren't in demand in today's high-tech workplace and they are a source of health scares, with high rates of juvenile delinquency and marital violence. For populist politicians such as Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit, insisting on bringing an end to Falashmura immigration is a risk-free policy. There are valid arguments for and against allowing more Falashmuras in to Israel, but while thousands of them still throng pestilential compounds, desperately claiming their membership of the tribe, it is still a bit too early to regard Ethiopia just as another holiday destination. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Double agent U.S. arrests American over suspected nuclear espionage for Israel. Conspiracy theory Al-Qaida: Hezbollah started rumor that Israel planned 9/11   1.   "Source of health scares, juvenile delinquincy domestic violence" 01:04  |  Global Citizen 08/04/08

Read & React Ezra: New spy case won't harm U.S.-Israel ties Responses: 471 Top MK seeks immediate referendum bill on Golan pullout Responses: 226 Yuval Steinitz: Absurd U.S. intel report saps effort to save world from Iranian nukes Responses: 64 ANALYSIS: New espionage affair may be old story, but will greatly damage Israel Responses: 93 Rosner's Domain Clinton won the Pennsylvania Jewish vote (WTR) New poll: Will the new spy case harm U.S.-Israel ties? Why was the new spy arrested now? (WTR) Notes on the new Israeli-espionage affair More Headlines 22:05 Syrian FM: Nothing stopping resumption of peace talks with Israel 21:40 Hamas leader says cease-fire with Israel must include West Bank 20:19 Ezra: New spy case won't harm U.S.-Israel ties 19:12 IDF soldier jailed for posting sensitive photos on Facebook 20:15 Carter: Rice statement untrue, I wasn't warned not to meet Hamas 18:40 U.S. facing nation-wide matza shortage this Passover 20:59 Abdullah to Bush: Israel-PA talks must be based on fixed timetable 15:10 Ahmadinejad: We'll 'slap mouths' of those demanding nuclear program halted 17:05 Belarus vandals daub swastikas on Shoah monument on Hitler's birthday 17:05 2 men allegedly held elderly against will, stole thousands Previous Editions Select Day 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr

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