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Ethiopian Jews receive a warm welcome in Israel

The first of 316 immigrants arrived in an Ethiopian Airlines jet

immigrants_israel Ethiopian immigrants arrive at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Israel | AP

Ethiopia's Jewish community has arrived in Israel in a special airlift from Gondar headed by Israel's Absorption and Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata.

The first of 316 immigrants arrived in an Ethiopian Airlines jet. Several of the passengers, some of who were dressed in traditional attire, kissed the ground as soon as they reached the tarmac, as festive Jewish songs blasted over loudspeakers.

The arrival of the immigrants—relatives of Jews from Ethiopia who were brought in decades ago has happened weeks after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for the same.

They might, however, not be reunited with their families immediately due to coronavirus guidelines. They are then slated to spend several months at an absorption centre, where they will learn Hebrew. 

Another plane is set to arrive on Friday, bringing the number of new immigrants to 500, while the rest are expected to arrive by the end of January.

The arrivals were greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and other senior government figures at an emotional welcome ceremony, reminiscent of the fanfare surrounding airlifts of Ethiopian Jews in the 1980s and 90s, an AP report reads.

“I don’t remember having been so moved for many years in such a clear image of Zionism,” Netanyahu said. “I had tears in my eyes”.

“This is the purpose of the Zionist story, the Jewish story,” he said.

Netanyahu has said that the story of Ethiopian immigration to Israel along with the risks and hardships involved will be taught in all schools. 

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