Coronavirus: Israel suspends immigration of 250 Ethiopians
The government of Israel has suspended the airlift and naturalization of more than 250 Ethiopian scheduled for this month.
The Israel government that initially approved airlifting of the Ethiopians on three flights before the end of the month suspended their flight amidst concerns for the deadly coronavirus.
The first 50 group of immigrants who have been scheduled to arrive on March 18 after a night flight from Ethiopia are now in limbo.
Former Knesset Member, Avraham Neguise said, “They have given up everything and sold all their belongings after they were told they would depart Tuesday, March 17,”
“Then suddenly, they were told they were not going because there was no immigration from Ethiopia. The people called me from Gondar and informed me,” he added
The Ethiopian born former parliamentarian further stated that, “Three Ethiopians Airlines were slated to carry the immigrants on March 18, 25 and 31. The number of immigrants approved for the March 18 flight was initially 80. After excluding anyone over the age of 60, reportedly due to concerns about the coronavirus, officials later reduced the number to 50.”
Neguise has however claimed that the Jewish and Interior Ministry have continued immigration from other countries although with a 14-day quarantine for new arrivals.
“Why has Ethiopian aliyah (immigration) been singles out? If Israel has decided to stop immigration because of coronavirus, that is understandable. However, immigration is open for every Jew to come, why only with Ethiopians did they stop it.?
