Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 2 March 2018

Ethiopian Jews threaten mass hunger strike over Israel move

By ELIAS MESERET ing it makes it easier for oth-
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia er diaspora communities to
(AP) — In an emotional immigrate.
gathering, representatives "You cannot find any other
for thousands of Ethiopian communities where the
Jews announced Wednes- parent is here and children
day they will stage a mass are there and children are
hunger strike if Israel elimi- here and parents are there
nates funding to allow and are forced to be sepa-
them to join their families in rated," he said. "It is only the
that country. Ethiopian Jewish commu-
Hundreds met at a syna- nity, not the Americans, not
gogue in Ethiopia's capital, the Russians, not Europe-
Addis Ababa, to express ans. If this isn't discrimina-
concern that Israel's pro- tion, what do you call it?"
posed budget removes the Of the Ethiopian Jews re-
funding to help them immi- maining in Ethiopia, 783 are
grate to reunite with rela- separated from their chil-
tives. Many held photos of dren and over 2,000 have
their loved ones. parents or siblings in Israel,
Most of the nearly 8,000 he said. While Israeli law al-
Ethiopian Jews in the East lows anyone with at least
African nation are said to one Jewish grandparent to
have family members al- Members of Ethiopia's Jewish community hold pictures of their relatives in Israel, below a banner immigrate, the trouble here
reading "Welcome" in Amharic, English and Hebrew, during a solidarity event at the synagogue
ready in Israel. Some told in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. centers on the commu-
The Associated Press they (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene) nity’s ancestors, said Alisa
have been separated for Bodner, a spokeswoman
well over a decade. Jews, with 1,300 Ethiopians had enough here. What Israeli government doesn't for the group Struggle for
In 1991 with Ethiopia deep brought in last year, but the have we done wrong to hear their plea. Ethiopian Aliyah. The an-
in civil war, Israel carried out effort is now on hold. suffer this much?" he add- Avraham Neguise, a law- cestors were forced to con-
the dramatic Operation "All of us here in Ethiopia ed, bursting into tears and maker who chairs the Israeli vert to Christianity about a
Solomon, successfully airlift- are in a foreign land and prompting others to cry out. parliament's Absorption century ago, while their de-
ing out some 14,500 Ethio- suffering from acute pov- He said Addis Ababa's and Diaspora Committee, scendants have returned to
pian Jews in less than two erty and hunger," said Me- community of Ethiopian said the budget will be vot- a “fully Jewish lifestyle,” she
days. Israel's government les Sidisto, the community Jews, which numbers ed on in the coming weeks. told the AP. Wednesday’s
in 2015 pledged to bring head of Ethiopian Jews in around 800 households, will He accused the govern- gathering was described
in the remaining Ethiopian Addis Ababa. "We have hold a hunger strike if the ment of discrimination, say- as a solidarity event.q

South Africa:

Leader says 'no smash and grab' land reform

By CHRIS TORCHIA A parliamentary commit- to warn governments and
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — tee is assessing a possible foreign investors that prop-
South Africa's new presi- constitutional amendment erty rights would be vul-
dent said Thursday that the that would allow for the nerable and investments
transfer of some land from reform known as "land ex- would not be safe if the
the country's white minority propriation without com- government proceeds with
to the black majority will be pensation," and will report land reform.
handled without damag- to the full parliament by the The group, AfriForum, said
ing the economy and that end of August. it will deliver its message to
there will be "no smash and Much of South Africa's the embassies of countries
grab." The effort to address economy is controlled by that trade with South Afri-
the legacy of apartheid the white minority, stirring ca. Ramaphosa appealed
more than two decades anger among blacks who for calm, saying some peo-
after the end of white rule hoped for a better life af- ple are trying to stoke fear
is one of South Africa's con- ter apartheid. However, among South Africans and
tentious issues, and Presi- the government wants in the international com-
dent Cyril Ramaphosa said to avoid the example of munity about the issue.
land transfers must be man- neighboring Zimbabwe's A 1913 law allotted most
aged through dialogue. chaotic land seizures un- of the fertile land in South
"It is a question that we der former leader Robert Africa to whites and left
will continue to handle Mugabe that contributed a small percentage for
with care and responsibil- to the country's economic blacks, and grievances
ity," said Ramaphosa, who deterioration. around the issue have
took office last month after A group that primarily rep- largely languished since
the resignation of Jacob resents South Africa's white the ruling African National
Zuma. The issue promises to Afrikaner minority said this Congress party took power
dominate political debate week that it plans to launch after apartheid ended in
ahead of elections in 2019. an international campaign 1994.q