Jewish Agency Calls for Removing the Restrictions on Bringing New Immigrants From Ethiopia to Israel

In relation to today's Israeli High Court of Justice hearing on the issue of the pace of immigration of Falash Mura to Israel from Ethiopia, the Jewish Agency is calling on the government to eliminate the restrictions impeding the immigration of eligible immigrants and to bring government policy into line with that relating to immigrants from every other country of the world.

In the same vein, the Jewish Agency recently passed a resolution calling on the government to double the pace of the immigration from Ethiopia. Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive Sallai Meridor believes that: "It is not right to hamper the pace of immigration from any country in the world; this is the only case of this happening in the history of the State of Israel. On the personal level, this is causing unnecessary suffering among those whose immigration has been approved. The economic arguments for the restrictions are baseless; quickening the pace of immigration would not raise costs."

According to a decision of the Prime Minister, a re-evaluation of the pace of immigration to Israel from Ethiopia will be held at the end of December, and the Jewish Agency hopes that the Prime Minister will come to a decision favouring the removal of restrictions and easing the plight of potential immigrants waiting to immigrate.

For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Cell: 050-7601706
Voicemail: 02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jafi.org