181 New Olim from Ethiopia
A total of 181 new immigrants from Ethiopia landed in Israel last week, as the Israeli government resumed immigration from the African country. Some of the new immigrants had waited decades to be brought to Israel and reunited with family members. A second flight scheduled to land later in the week will bring another 160 new immigrants, and other flights are scheduled for the coming months. According to the Jewish Agency, it is expected that a total of 3,000 new immigrants from Ethiopia will land in Israel by November. The flights are the second part of Operation Zur Israel, which was put on hold in March 2021 after an appeal against it was filed with Israel’s Supreme Court. Almost all of the new immigrants will be reuniting with family members. Israel’s Immigration and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata (Blue and White), herself an Ethiopian native, joined the flight from Addis Ababa. Prior to its takeoff, she said, “When I look at these
children and their parents and I hear their stories, their struggle is my struggle – and it must be the struggle of all Israel. We just need to do the right thing.” She added, “I have an agreement with [Finance Minister Avigdor] Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu), that we will bring all those with first-degree [relatives] – he will find the money, the budget. Once and for all we will end the saga and bring a solution.” Avtamo Yosef, who heads the Jewish Agency’s department of Ethiopian immigration, noted, “In my eyes, the immigration is the easy part. The absorption is the complicated part.”
Should U.S. Withdraw from WHO, UN?
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), the top Republican lawmaker on the House Armed Services Committee, has introduced a bill to withdraw the United States from the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO). The bill was created in a response to human rights abuses in China. According to Rogers, it is “unconscionable” for the U.S. to continue participating in the UN while China is also a member. If the bill passes, it would seek to block funds from being disbursed to the UN or any associated agency, since coalition leaders have aided China in carrying out genocide. Rogers said, “The Charter of the United Nations states the UN’s mission to ‘reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.’ “It’s clear the UN has abandoned the ideals set in its founding charter, and that’s why, among many other reasons, I’ve reintroduced legislation to withdraw
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in Israel. “Since 2018, they can work and live in Israel indefinitely, and bring their families,” Pex said. “They must renew their visas every three years, compared to two for diamond traders from other countries.” In addition to the diamond trade, Israel’s ties with India are deepening on issues surrounding defense. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White) visited India to mark the 30th anniversary of official diplomatic ties between the two countries. Meeting his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, Gantz said, “By working together, we may increase our capabilities and ensure the security and economic interests of both countries.” The two also discussed combining Israeli technological and operational abilities with India’s development and production abilities. It is also expected that a free trade agreement will be finalized later this year.
