Ethiopian wife may be deported because husband suffered stroke
Non-Jewish woman immigrated with Jewish husband in 1991 and never received citizenship.
By Yanir Yagna Tags: Israel newsIn 19 days Baza Almash will be deported to Ethiopia, because her husband has been in a nursing home, immobilized by a stroke, and the couple is no longer living as man and wife.
Almash, 32, is not Jewish. Her husband of 10 years, Mogus Adeniya, immigrated to Israel in 1991. He would fly to Ethiopia every few months to see her. Their daughter, Rahel, was born five years ago. Shortly afterward, in 2006, Almash immigrated to Israel, where she was given a temporary visa.
The family lived together in Netivot. About six months ago Almash began studying to convert to Judaism, in order to obtain Israeli citizenship.
About a year after her arrival, however, Adeniya, who is about 30 years her senior, had a stroke that left him paralyzed below the waist and unable to walk or to take care of himself. Almash cared for him, but he eventually was admitted to a nursing home in Ashkelon.
About two weeks ago, Almash received an urgent summons to report to the Be'er Sheva branch of the Population Registry, where she was handed a letter giving her 30 days to leave the country. The letter said that an agency committee had rejected her request to become a naturalized Israeli citizen because her husband had been in an institution since the beginning of the naturalization process, and "you are not living together and managing a common household."
Almash tearfully told a reporter, "I haven't slept since, the fear of deportation has paralyzed me, I don't know what to do; I came with my husband, who was like a father to me, to Israel, and now they want to deport me because he is institutionalized."
She says that her daughter is completely Israeli: "Do they want me to return her to Ethiopia? What will we do there? Our whole life is in Israel."
Almash works two hours a days as a cleaner at a Netivot community center, and gets by with help from the city welfare department.
The Interior Ministry said in response: "Mrs. Almash submitted a naturalization application based on her being the spouse of an Israeli citizen. Shortly thereafter the citizen was admitted to a medical institution, and for the past three years they have not lived as a couple. In light of the tragic circumstances, however, the naturalization process was not halted immediately, but only two years later. When it became clear that the process had been suspended, Mrs. Almash lost her standing and she was recently asked to leave the country. However, the head of the Population Registry, Mr. Amnon Ben Ami, has asked to review her case as early as tomorrow."
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2000 years to end up with a jewish redneck state?
Such things do not happen in a civilized country. But this is Israel we are talking about, clearly not a civilized country.
I think she is being deported because the husband and wife no longer sleep together and from all one can see will never be capable of making love in the way we know it. That seems to disqualify the marriage. If that is the case, we should also check many Israeli homes where no action exists at night and invalidates all those marriages. What is going on with Israel? There has to be a better explanation than this.
Dear Mr Eli Ishai - as the Minister of the Interior, I think it is your duty to nullify this deportation order immediately. As a Jew, it is your duty to act in a humane and understanding way. Do you really think that one woman (whose daughter is Israeli) will be a demographic threat to the Jewish majority in Israel. Do you realise that Israel's attitude to this woman is not only cruel and inhuman but also disgusting. Israel is supposed to be "a light unto the nations" - well this is exactly the opposite. After reading about Baza Almash, I am ashamed to hold Israeli citizenship. As a citizen of this country, I ask you to personally interfere and reverse this idiotic, cruel inhumane and disgusting decision which brings shame on Israel. Perhaps you are able to rise above the dispciably low level of politicians in this country and show a dash of caring for another human being, even though it might not buy you any deal...... Paul
Basically, she's being deported because even though she's married to an Israeli Jew, she's not Jew herself? But that's sheer racism! How can this happen in a civilized country?
This individual case is a wakeup call for the black Jews There are people who think that the black Jew is not Jew enough, as such need to be deported or be considered as second citizen There are some who think that the very presence of the Black Jew are social time bomb, meaning that down the line the black Jew may claim their rights as what the Negros did in The states, There are some groups who thinks that most of the black Jew are economic migrants who are parasite in the society who drain the welfare system, that was put in place as safety net for short term is being used by black Jews for extended period. The so-called leaders of the black Jew do not have the influence, comprehension, political competence, and vision to help, educate, and rally black Jews around issues that is important to the group. All what the so-called leaders do is make sure they live comfortably and use their title to benefit themselves and their friend. If the government is really in to helping these black Jews, who most of them are from Ethiopia, first and most priority should be assimilation to the mainstream society, education to anyone who needs it. Short of that, everything would be like commuting people to concentration camp. I hope, this poor woman and family would be allowed to stay in Israel.
She is trying to convert in order to obtain citizenship, like stated in the article, thats not what Judaism is for!
She is after all legally married to the man who is still very much alive. She really wanted to and, from what I understand still wants to, convert. As #1 says - why deprive a daughter and wife the right to see their father and husband and why deprive him the right to see his wife and daughter? Why not rather let her convert, with her daughter, and so build up another Jewish family.
i was and still remain a zionist but living here for almost two years and having been screwed by Misrad Haklita on a business loan.. i think its time for me to head home.. i think ill keep my vision of Israel but the one had before i moved here.
Is a marriage anulled because of illness? Is a child to be sent away from her father and her home because he is sick. Is a sick man to be denied the right to see his wife and child? This is just in-human. Does the interior ministry have the right to annull marriages when it suits them? I think not.
The Ha'aretz page on which tis article appeared also included an article about a Bulgarian immigrant whose residency has gone from legal to illegal and back to legal again and a photo of a Haitian child with a note saying Israel is considering adopting such children (who are clearly not ethnically Jewish andd are probably baptised Christians).
HOpe israel makes the right decision and allows her to stay. With all its compassion around the world... haiti.... lets not detract from it and go through with something so completely inhumane.