Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 21, 2008 Cheshvan 23, 5769 | | Israel Time: 22:07 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 00:00 14/04/2008 Israel is losing its sovereignty By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel, Immigration  The government decision to stop handling the immigration of the Falashmura starting in early June is a worthy move that comes much too late. As illustrated by a series of articles currently being published in Haaretz, a strange coalition of "liberal" American Jewish organizations, rabbis from the messianic branch of religious Zionism and Shas leaders have, for too many years, succeeded in imposing terror on the Israeli establishment and brought to Israel about 26,000 Ethiopian citizens who do not match the Law of Return's criteria for new immigrants. The Falashmura are not Jews. For many generations, after their ancestors converted, they lived as Christians in Ethiopia. Now they want to exploit their Jewish roots in order to leave one of the poorest countries in the world and to live as welfare recipients in Israel. It is impossible to assess the social and economic price the country has been paying for years for this "aliyah," and because every additional "oleh" will naturally demand that his family be brought, this is a time bomb that only becomes more powerful over the years. Bringing them to Israel has no connection to Judaism or Zionism. In 1991, then prime minister Yitzhak Shamir ordered not to bring the Falashmura to Israel in the context of Operation Solomon. Two years later, the Tsaban Committee ruled that their arrival in Israel would be possible only on an individual basis, according to humanitarian considerations. These decisions were continually eroded under all succeeding governments. Thousands have entered the country each year during the past decade via the Law of Entry, which was originally designed to enable individuals to become citizens, and not to enable the entry en masse of entire groups. Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar's decision to the effect that the Falashmura should be considered "complete Jews" is absurd in light of his demand that they undergo a full conversion process in any case. Advertisement It is no wonder that in light of the governmental weakness regarding the Falashmura, additional groups from all over the world want to be recognized as "lost tribes" and to receive Israeli citizenship. A sovereign country cannot be so dismissive of its citizenship laws. By what right does the government refuse to absorb African refugees who risk their lives and cross the border in Sinai, while it gives in so easily to other groups of charlatans? The Jewish Agency is now winding up its activity in Ethiopia, and this should be welcomed. But the Falashmura and their supporters in Israel and the Jewish world refuse to recognize the decision. Some of the Ethiopian immigrant organizations are threatening an international struggle, angry demonstrations and hunger strikes. Shas leader Eli Yishai plans a highly publicized visit to Ethiopia next month, and has even submitted a draft bill to the government calling to examine the right to aliyah of another 8,700 Falashmura. We can only hope that now, as opposed to the past, the government will succeed in withstanding this pressure and will implement the present decision in full. What is needed now is a clear statement by the prime minister that the State of Israel retains its right to decide who will receive its citizenship. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nasrallah - raus! Germany bans Hezbollah television station. Devil's advocate Video / Prof. Avi Shlaim: Settlements turned Israel into apartheid state.   1.   NOT A SINGLE ETHIOPIAN IN ISRAEL HAS JEWISH ROOTS!!! 23:30  |  Tom 14/04/08   2.   Finally 00:44  |  Robert 15/04/08   3.   #1 Tom 01:19  |  Boycott 15/04/08   4.   Tom: cutting the branch on which he`s sitting 03:49  |  Pelicano 15/04/08   5.   Halachah 04:38  |  Shimon 15/04/08   6.   khazar 05:29  |  mike honcho 15/04/08   7.   Falasha mura 07:01  |  Josh 15/04/08   8.   Total Agreement 07:03  |  Edward 15/04/08   9.   #1 You forgot... it was the Ethiopians the Only Ones to 07:52  |  The Archives 15/04/08   10.   Robert, #2, You are right but it is all ashkenazim 10:32  |  Yohann 15/04/08   11.   Israel today 11:23  |  amnon 15/04/08   12.   by the way 11:36  |  amnon 15/04/08   13.   by the way 11:38  |  amnon 15/04/08   14.   stop the racist comments 11:52  |  amnon 15/04/08   15.   "Ashkenazim cannot stand for this!!" 08:10  |  Baruch 13/05/08   16.   Oi Gewalt Yohann! 12:06  |  J-boy 26/05/08   17.   u fooled us 22:33  |  lion of judha 09/06/08   18.   Well said 22:38  |  Michael 11/06/08   19.   Well Said 22:40  |  Michael 11/06/08   20.   TOM - I know who you are 21:57  |  Reader 21/11/08

Read & React 20,000 Jewish pilgrims to descend on Hebron amid settler violence Responses: 137 Experts argue: How close is Iran to its first nuclear weapon? Responses: 89 Video: Prof. Avi Shlaim says settlements turn Israel into Apartheid state Responses: 86 PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo: The Palestinian people need Obama's help Responses: 28 Gideon Levy: Israeli left was born in sin and died because of a lie Responses: 55 More Headlines 20:06 Syria dismisses IAEA report saying it engaged in covert nuke program 15:06 UNRWA chief: Gaza on brink of humanitarian catastrophe 20:36 Haniyeh: If Israel abides by truce, so will Palestinian groups 12:46 20,000 Jewish pilgrims to descend on Hebron amid settler violence 18:56 Germany bans Hezbollah television station 11:58 U.S. Jews, Muslims launch unprecedented drive against anti-Semitism, xenophobia 21:35 Livni: Voting for Netanyahu equals selling out to Shas 03:56 ANALYSIS / A state within a state has arisen in the territories 10:18 Israel wastes 250 million shekels on settlement roads to nowhere 19:54 U.S. global power to decline in coming decades, intelligence report says 17:35 Video / Prof. Avi Shlaim: Settlements turned Israel into apartheid state 23:57 Arise Sir Shimon: Peres receives honorary knighthood from Britain's Queen 11:35 Makeover planned for Hitler`s `strength through joy` complex-turned-hotel Previous Editions Select Day 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved