According to the Zionists’ Fake (IHRA) Definition of Anti-Semitism this article in
Ha’aretz is Anti-Semitic
Ha’aretz is Anti-Semitic
At the present time the Israeli government, with the full support of the Israeli Labour Party, is doing its best to physically expel all its estimated 40,000 Black African asylum seekers, most of whom are from Sudan and Eritrea. B.Michael in Israel’s sole liberal daily, Ha’aretz makes the comparison between this and Adolf Eichman’s policy in 1938 Austria where, between March 1938, when Hitler invaded till December 1939, Austria’s Jewish population was reduced from 192,000 to 57,000.
One of the 11 examples of ‘anti-Semitism’
according to the bogus International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of ‘anti-Semitism’
is ‘Drawing comparisons
of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis’. Not only is anti-Semitism out of control in
the Labour Party but it would appear that Israel, especially its liberal press,
is suffering from an epidemic!
B.Michael in his normally pungent and satirical
style, compares the policy of Adolf Eichmann towards the Jews of Vienna to Israel’s policy of forcing out Black African asylum seekers. Eichmann’s policy of impoverishing, terrorising and
stripping Jews of their rights was considered a massive success at the time in
forcing the Jews out of Austria. Israel is
only just learning how to accomplish the same feat. Israel’s refugee population of 60,000 has
already been reduced by 10,000-15,000 through a combination of tactics such as
imprisonment in the desert camp at Holot, depriving them of the right to work,
pogroms and racist attacks.
style, compares the policy of Adolf Eichmann towards the Jews of Vienna to Israel’s policy of forcing out Black African asylum seekers. Eichmann’s policy of impoverishing, terrorising and
stripping Jews of their rights was considered a massive success at the time in
forcing the Jews out of Austria. Israel is
only just learning how to accomplish the same feat. Israel’s refugee population of 60,000 has
already been reduced by 10,000-15,000 through a combination of tactics such as
imprisonment in the desert camp at Holot, depriving them of the right to work,
pogroms and racist attacks.
Israel has learnt well, as B.Michael says, from the
Jews traditional enemies. Just as the anti-Semites
used every trick in the book to force out Jews so Netanyahu does the same to Black non-Jews. But we shouldn’t just blame Netanyahu. The Israeli Labour Party and its new, even
more right-wing leader Avi Gabbay, is fully behind Netanyahu’s stance. The refugees from Eritrea are bogus, no matter that every international body and human rights agency says that Eritrea
is one of the worst police states in the world.
Jews traditional enemies. Just as the anti-Semites
used every trick in the book to force out Jews so Netanyahu does the same to Black non-Jews. But we shouldn’t just blame Netanyahu. The Israeli Labour Party and its new, even
more right-wing leader Avi Gabbay, is fully behind Netanyahu’s stance. The refugees from Eritrea are bogus, no matter that every international body and human rights agency says that Eritrea
is one of the worst police states in the world.
 |
| Unlike the Israeli Labour Party, Netanyahu is quite honest – it doesn’t matter if the refugees are fleeing persecution – they are not Jewish |
What is the crime that these refugees have committed that Israel is
seeking to force them out and deport them to 3rd world countries
such as Rwanda, a breach of international law in itself? Well there are two crimes that these refugees
have committed. Not only are they not Jewish
in a Jewish state but they are also Black.
Faced with this double criminality, Israel really has no choice to
act if it is to preserve itself as a Jewish state. This is why a Jewish State cannot be other than a racist state. It isn’t like England, a Christian state only in so far as the head of state is head of the Church of England. It isn’t even like the Islamic state of Iran where although the law is derived from the Sharia, the 20,000 or so Jews in Iran don’t suffer any civic penalties as a result.
seeking to force them out and deport them to 3rd world countries
such as Rwanda, a breach of international law in itself? Well there are two crimes that these refugees
have committed. Not only are they not Jewish
in a Jewish state but they are also Black.
Faced with this double criminality, Israel really has no choice to
act if it is to preserve itself as a Jewish state. This is why a Jewish State cannot be other than a racist state. It isn’t like England, a Christian state only in so far as the head of state is head of the Church of England. It isn’t even like the Islamic state of Iran where although the law is derived from the Sharia, the 20,000 or so Jews in Iran don’t suffer any civic penalties as a result.
Is Israel being racist by forcing out these
refugees? According to its own criteria it’s just
seeking to preserve its racial or ethnic purity. Indeed just accusing the Israeli state of
racism is itself anti-Semitic because the IHRA definition also states that ‘claiming that the existence of a State of
Israel is a racist endeavour’ is anti-Semitic.
refugees? According to its own criteria it’s just
seeking to preserve its racial or ethnic purity. Indeed just accusing the Israeli state of
racism is itself anti-Semitic because the IHRA definition also states that ‘claiming that the existence of a State of
Israel is a racist endeavour’ is anti-Semitic.
David Sheen’s video is particularly shocking in that it shows how members of the Israeli government, including its present ‘Culture’ Minister Miri Regev deliberately fanned the fires of racism and enabled a pogrom to take place against the Africans of Tel Aviv.
It used to be the case that Jews experienced pogroms in Eastern Europe. It is Israel’s unique achievement to turn Jews into pogromists.
The last of the three articles from Ha’aretz here
is about a Kenyan Jew Kimani who was deported the moment he set foot on Israeli
soil. Normally people who have converted
to Judaism, are admitted under the racist Law of Return. That includes conversions carried out by the
Conservative, Liberal or Reform strands of Judaism. Ultra Orthodox rabbis have been trying to
change this to only Orthodox conversions for years but they haven’t succeeded
because this would cut off the vast majority of American Jewry at a
stroke. However Kenya’s small Black
African Jews have far less political clout and unlike American Jews they are
not White.
is about a Kenyan Jew Kimani who was deported the moment he set foot on Israeli
soil. Normally people who have converted
to Judaism, are admitted under the racist Law of Return. That includes conversions carried out by the
Conservative, Liberal or Reform strands of Judaism. Ultra Orthodox rabbis have been trying to
change this to only Orthodox conversions for years but they haven’t succeeded
because this would cut off the vast majority of American Jewry at a
stroke. However Kenya’s small Black
African Jews have far less political clout and unlike American Jews they are
not White.
Of course there are some people who will say that
none of this is racist but then there are some people who deny the Holocaust and
even people who say the Earth is flat.
none of this is racist but then there are some people who deny the Holocaust and
even people who say the Earth is flat.
Tony Greenstein
Israel’s push to expel 45,000
African asylum seekers and migrants borrows from Eichmann’s 1938 playbook for
expelling Austria’s Jews
African asylum seekers and migrants borrows from Eichmann’s 1938 playbook for
expelling Austria’s Jews
B. Michael Jan 11, 2018 11:03 AM
 |
| African asylum seekers at Israel’s Saharonim detention center. Ilan Assayag |
Sometimes even history’s sense of
humor exceeds the boundaries of good taste. This time it’s no joke; it’s not
even irony or sarcasm. It’s just a bitter, sardonic spit in the face.
humor exceeds the boundaries of good taste. This time it’s no joke; it’s not
even irony or sarcasm. It’s just a bitter, sardonic spit in the face.
On March 13, 1938, Austria was
annexed to the Nazi Reich amid cheers and excitement. Slightly more than five
months later, on August 26, 1938 the Central Bureau for Jewish Emigration (the
Zentralstelle für jüdische Auswanderung) was opened, headed by a talented
executive named Adolf Eichmann.
annexed to the Nazi Reich amid cheers and excitement. Slightly more than five
months later, on August 26, 1938 the Central Bureau for Jewish Emigration (the
Zentralstelle für jüdische Auswanderung) was opened, headed by a talented
executive named Adolf Eichmann.
Its objective was to organize and
expedite the expulsion of Jews from Austria. It bears remembering that in 1938,
before the war, the Final Solution and the death camps, the Nazis “merely”
wanted to purify the Reich of the stinking Jews swarming in it.
expedite the expulsion of Jews from Austria. It bears remembering that in 1938,
before the war, the Final Solution and the death camps, the Nazis “merely”
wanted to purify the Reich of the stinking Jews swarming in it.
Eichmann, a disciplined and
diligent manager, developed an efficient system for accelerating emigration:
forbidding Jews to work, rescinding their rights, discriminatory and
humiliating laws, confiscation of property, taxes, boycotts, exclusion,
monetary incentives, turning a blind eye to acts by the racist rabble and of
course, threats of imprisonment for those who refused to leave.
diligent manager, developed an efficient system for accelerating emigration:
forbidding Jews to work, rescinding their rights, discriminatory and
humiliating laws, confiscation of property, taxes, boycotts, exclusion,
monetary incentives, turning a blind eye to acts by the racist rabble and of
course, threats of imprisonment for those who refused to leave.
And it worked.
 |
| Demonstrators for and against expulsion of asylum seekers at a Tel Aviv protest, January 9, 2018. The sign says: “The rehabilitation of south Tel Aviv begins with the expulsion of the infiltrators.” Moti Milrod |
Within around three months
Eichmann’s immigration authority expelled 45,000 Jews. Many others abandoned
everything and fled for their lives, without availing themselves of Adolf’s
services.
Eichmann’s immigration authority expelled 45,000 Jews. Many others abandoned
everything and fled for their lives, without availing themselves of Adolf’s
services.
Most of those who remained were
murdered.
murdered.
The state founded by those
fugitives now also has an immigration authority. It, too, is essentially an
expulsion authority. It deals with exporting members of inferior races and
religions. Recently it has been assigned the weighty task of expelling 45,000
burdensome blacks. They are burdensome because they aren’t white, and also a
bit because they aren’t Jews.
fugitives now also has an immigration authority. It, too, is essentially an
expulsion authority. It deals with exporting members of inferior races and
religions. Recently it has been assigned the weighty task of expelling 45,000
burdensome blacks. They are burdensome because they aren’t white, and also a
bit because they aren’t Jews.
 |
| Holot internment camp in the Negev desert |
They are non-Jews and blacks,
which is really too much.
which is really too much.
For years the Israeli expulsion
network has been using against them the entire arsenal of abuses that proved
itself in Eichmann’s office – forbidding them to work, denying them rights,
passing discriminatory and humiliating laws, taxes, boycotts, exclusion,
monetary incentives, turning a blind eye to the acts of the racist rabble and
of course, threats of imprisonment for those who refuse to leave.
network has been using against them the entire arsenal of abuses that proved
itself in Eichmann’s office – forbidding them to work, denying them rights,
passing discriminatory and humiliating laws, taxes, boycotts, exclusion,
monetary incentives, turning a blind eye to the acts of the racist rabble and
of course, threats of imprisonment for those who refuse to leave.
But it’s not working so well.
Blacks, it turns out, are like crabgrass. They aren’t easy to uproot. There was
no choice but to ceremoniously announce an “operation.”
Blacks, it turns out, are like crabgrass. They aren’t easy to uproot. There was
no choice but to ceremoniously announce an “operation.”
The Population, Immigration and
Border Authority is also seeking to hire workers; expulsion workers. Help
wanted ads were published in newspapers, and one of the prerequisites is
“experience in this field of endeavor.” There are lots of Jews with related
experience, but most of them experienced it as expellees, not as expellers, and
that’s not what’s required.
Border Authority is also seeking to hire workers; expulsion workers. Help
wanted ads were published in newspapers, and one of the prerequisites is
“experience in this field of endeavor.” There are lots of Jews with related
experience, but most of them experienced it as expellees, not as expellers, and
that’s not what’s required.
Nor is there any point in
approaching veterans of the Nakba – when more than 700,000 Arabs fled or were
expelled from their homes during the War of Independence. They’ll deny it ever
happened. It seems, therefore, that the best list of those with “experience”
can be found in Yad Vashem. The immigration authority ought to look there.
approaching veterans of the Nakba – when more than 700,000 Arabs fled or were
expelled from their homes during the War of Independence. They’ll deny it ever
happened. It seems, therefore, that the best list of those with “experience”
can be found in Yad Vashem. The immigration authority ought to look there.
This operation to deport refugees
is a co—production of Interior Minister Arye Dery and Public Security Minister
Gilad Erdan. They’ve allotted two years to the mission of expelling 45,000
shvartzes. How shameful! Eichman and his team at the Central Bureau for Jewish
Emigration expelled 45,000 Jews in a few months. Dery, Erdan and their team at
the Central Bureau for the Emigration of Shvartzes need two years to expel an
equal number of people. Oy vey, look how we fall short. We obviously still have
a lot to learn from them. But we can at least say that we’re moving in the
right direction.
is a co—production of Interior Minister Arye Dery and Public Security Minister
Gilad Erdan. They’ve allotted two years to the mission of expelling 45,000
shvartzes. How shameful! Eichman and his team at the Central Bureau for Jewish
Emigration expelled 45,000 Jews in a few months. Dery, Erdan and their team at
the Central Bureau for the Emigration of Shvartzes need two years to expel an
equal number of people. Oy vey, look how we fall short. We obviously still have
a lot to learn from them. But we can at least say that we’re moving in the
right direction.
Only Ms. History looks at us from
above, with a malicious smile on her face as she sees the persecuted become the
persecutor, the refugee become the expeller, the uprooted become the uprooter,
the oppressed become the oppressor, the beaten become the beater, the trampled
become the trampler. “It’s true,” she whispers to herself, “I really am
repeating myself. But I find this role reversal exceedingly funny.”
above, with a malicious smile on her face as she sees the persecuted become the
persecutor, the refugee become the expeller, the uprooted become the uprooter,
the oppressed become the oppressor, the beaten become the beater, the trampled
become the trampler. “It’s true,” she whispers to herself, “I really am
repeating myself. But I find this role reversal exceedingly funny.”
I don’t find it funny at all. My
parents were expelled from Vienna. My country is desecrating their memory.
parents were expelled from Vienna. My country is desecrating their memory.
B. Michael
Haaretz Contributor
Haaretz and Ilan Lior Jan 09,
2018 6:25
2018 6:25
Multiple African asylum seekers
who were forcefully deported from Israel suffered abuse, detention and torture
after they were made to take hazardous journeys when they were sent away from
the Jewish state, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in a
rare statement released Tuesday.
who were forcefully deported from Israel suffered abuse, detention and torture
after they were made to take hazardous journeys when they were sent away from
the Jewish state, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in a
rare statement released Tuesday.
The UN refugee agency’s
statement, which quoted a speech by agency spokesperson William Spindler, noted
that the agency conducted research into the subject and highlighted 80
individual cases of people who risked their lives after they were relocated by
Israel and then had to make hazardous journeys to Europe through Libya.
statement, which quoted a speech by agency spokesperson William Spindler, noted
that the agency conducted research into the subject and highlighted 80
individual cases of people who risked their lives after they were relocated by
Israel and then had to make hazardous journeys to Europe through Libya.
According to the world body, its
staff conducted interviews with the asylum seekers in question to better
understand their plight. “Feeling they had no other choice, they travelled
many hundreds of kilometers through conflict zones in South Sudan, Sudan and
Libya after being relocated by Israel,” the statement recounted the
difficult experiences of the asylum seekers as they were told to UN staff who
interviewed them in Italy.
staff conducted interviews with the asylum seekers in question to better
understand their plight. “Feeling they had no other choice, they travelled
many hundreds of kilometers through conflict zones in South Sudan, Sudan and
Libya after being relocated by Israel,” the statement recounted the
difficult experiences of the asylum seekers as they were told to UN staff who
interviewed them in Italy.
The interviews took place between
November 2015 and December 2017 in reception centers and informal encampments
around Rome. All the interviewees are adult men, and some are reported to have
family members still living in Israel. They all came into the Jewish state via
the Sinai area, and the UN statement said that “in every case they
reported torture, mistreatment and extortion before reaching Israel.”
November 2015 and December 2017 in reception centers and informal encampments
around Rome. All the interviewees are adult men, and some are reported to have
family members still living in Israel. They all came into the Jewish state via
the Sinai area, and the UN statement said that “in every case they
reported torture, mistreatment and extortion before reaching Israel.”
The statement went on to say that
the men suffered “abuse, torture and extortion before risking their lives
once again by crossing the Mediterranean to Italy” after Israel had sent
them away.
the men suffered “abuse, torture and extortion before risking their lives
once again by crossing the Mediterranean to Italy” after Israel had sent
them away.
The refugees also reportedly told
UN staff that they were transferred from Israel to countries in Africa with
very little money to support them later on their way, and that when they
arrived they faced minimal accommodation and limited aid. “They reported
feeling unsafe many experienced extortion and detention,” the statement
stressed.
UN staff that they were transferred from Israel to countries in Africa with
very little money to support them later on their way, and that when they
arrived they faced minimal accommodation and limited aid. “They reported
feeling unsafe many experienced extortion and detention,” the statement
stressed.
The statement also lamented the
fact that while Israel has become a temporary shelter for tens of thousands of
asylum seekers, “since Israel took over refugee status determination from
UNHRC in 2009, only ten Eritreans and one Sudanese have been recognized as
refugees.”
fact that while Israel has become a temporary shelter for tens of thousands of
asylum seekers, “since Israel took over refugee status determination from
UNHRC in 2009, only ten Eritreans and one Sudanese have been recognized as
refugees.”
The agency called on Israel to
halt its planned deportation of thousands of asylum seekers, namely those who
fled to Israel from Eritrea and Sudan and are now slated to be sent back to the
African continent.
halt its planned deportation of thousands of asylum seekers, namely those who
fled to Israel from Eritrea and Sudan and are now slated to be sent back to the
African continent.
The UNHCR “is seriously concerned
over Israel’s plans announced on January 1st to forcibly relocate Eritreans and
Sudanese to countries in Africa or have them face indefinite detention,”
the statement said. “At a time when UNHCR and partners in the
international community are engaged in emergency evacuations from Libya, forced
relocation to countries that do not offer effective protection and the onward
movement of these people to Libya and Europe is particularly worrisome.”
over Israel’s plans announced on January 1st to forcibly relocate Eritreans and
Sudanese to countries in Africa or have them face indefinite detention,”
the statement said. “At a time when UNHCR and partners in the
international community are engaged in emergency evacuations from Libya, forced
relocation to countries that do not offer effective protection and the onward
movement of these people to Libya and Europe is particularly worrisome.”
The agency extended an offer to
help Israel in finding other possible ways to handle the situation, saying that
it “stands ready to work with Israel to find alternative solutions for the
protection needs of asylum seekers, in line with international standards. This
includes resettlement out of Israel, as has happened previously.”
help Israel in finding other possible ways to handle the situation, saying that
it “stands ready to work with Israel to find alternative solutions for the
protection needs of asylum seekers, in line with international standards. This
includes resettlement out of Israel, as has happened previously.”
Last week, Israel’s Population,
Immigration and Border Authority announced that it was launching its campaign
to begin ridding Israel of its African asylum seekers, declaring that many
Eritrean and Sudanese nationals will have to leave the country within the
coming months or be incarcerated indefinitely.
Immigration and Border Authority announced that it was launching its campaign
to begin ridding Israel of its African asylum seekers, declaring that many
Eritrean and Sudanese nationals will have to leave the country within the
coming months or be incarcerated indefinitely.
There are some 35,000 Eritrean
and Sudanese natives living in Israel, who have another 5,000 children who were
born here. The overwhelming majority of the adults have temporary visas that
they must renew every three months. The next time many of them come to renew
their visas, they will be told it is the last renewal and that they will have
to leave before the visa expires. The authority will propose that they either
return to their countries of origin, or leave for Uganda or Rwanda.
and Sudanese natives living in Israel, who have another 5,000 children who were
born here. The overwhelming majority of the adults have temporary visas that
they must renew every three months. The next time many of them come to renew
their visas, they will be told it is the last renewal and that they will have
to leave before the visa expires. The authority will propose that they either
return to their countries of origin, or leave for Uganda or Rwanda.
Plan to bring 40 Ugandan converts
on an Israel tour is at risk amid fears the participants wouldn’t be allowed
in, officials at the Jewish Agency and world Conservative movement say
on an Israel tour is at risk amid fears the participants wouldn’t be allowed
in, officials at the Jewish Agency and world Conservative movement say
Judy Maltz Jan 04, 2018
Plans to bring a first-ever group
of Ugandan Jews to Israel on a Birthright trip are in jeopardy following the
recent deportation of a member of their community.
of Ugandan Jews to Israel on a Birthright trip are in jeopardy following the
recent deportation of a member of their community.
The group of 40 Ugandans had been
scheduled to arrive in Israel in late May on the free 10-day trip available to
young Jewish adults from around the world. But Birthright officials are now
concerned the group may be turned away upon arrival, just as 31-year-old
Yehudah Kimani was, because the immigration authorities do not consider them
Jewish.
scheduled to arrive in Israel in late May on the free 10-day trip available to
young Jewish adults from around the world. But Birthright officials are now
concerned the group may be turned away upon arrival, just as 31-year-old
Yehudah Kimani was, because the immigration authorities do not consider them
Jewish.
The trip has been in the planning
for two years.
for two years.
The prospective participants all
belong to the Abayudaya community, which has been practicing Judaism for more
than 100 years. Its members, however, only underwent formal conversions over
the past 15 years, most of them under the supervision of Conservative rabbis.
belong to the Abayudaya community, which has been practicing Judaism for more
than 100 years. Its members, however, only underwent formal conversions over
the past 15 years, most of them under the supervision of Conservative rabbis.
In late December, Kimani, who
hails from Kenya but lived for a year among the Abayudaya while converting, was
detained upon entering Israel and deported the following morning, even though
he had a valid tourist visa.
hails from Kenya but lived for a year among the Abayudaya while converting, was
detained upon entering Israel and deported the following morning, even though
he had a valid tourist visa.
On Wednesday, at a special
session of the Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora
Affairs, an Interior Ministry official defended the decision to deport Kimani
and insisted he was not Jewish despite his conversion.
session of the Knesset Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora
Affairs, an Interior Ministry official defended the decision to deport Kimani
and insisted he was not Jewish despite his conversion.
According to officials at the
Jewish Agency and world Conservative movement, following Kimani’s deportation,
Birthright notified them of its intention to cancel the trip from Uganda,
fearing a similar fiasco when the group arrived. Marom Olami, the young adult
division of the world Conservative movement, has helped arrange details of the
itinerary.
Jewish Agency and world Conservative movement, following Kimani’s deportation,
Birthright notified them of its intention to cancel the trip from Uganda,
fearing a similar fiasco when the group arrived. Marom Olami, the young adult
division of the world Conservative movement, has helped arrange details of the
itinerary.
According to the officials, the
Jewish Agency and world Conservative movement persuaded Birthright to refrain
from any drastic moves at this point. Birthright officials responded that they
would consider moving forward with the trip if two conditions were fulfilled:
only Ugandans who converted after 2009 would be allowed to participate, and
every participant would obtain prior approval from the Interior Ministry.
Jewish Agency and world Conservative movement persuaded Birthright to refrain
from any drastic moves at this point. Birthright officials responded that they
would consider moving forward with the trip if two conditions were fulfilled:
only Ugandans who converted after 2009 would be allowed to participate, and
every participant would obtain prior approval from the Interior Ministry.
In response to a request for
comment on Thursday, Birthright said: “Birthright
Israel has received a request to bring a group of Jewish young adults from
Uganda and is currently examining it.”
comment on Thursday, Birthright said: “Birthright
Israel has received a request to bring a group of Jewish young adults from
Uganda and is currently examining it.”
The Abayudaya community is
estimated to number between 1,500 and 2,000 members. Most were converted in
2002, before a smaller wave in 2008.
estimated to number between 1,500 and 2,000 members. Most were converted in
2002, before a smaller wave in 2008.
Only in 2009, however, did they
join the world Conservative movement, and for that reason, the Jewish Agency
only recognized the Abayudaya as an official Jewish community from that year.
The assumption is that anyone who was converted after 2009 will have a better
chance of entering Israel. (Kimani, however, was converted in 2010, and that
did not prevent him from being deported.)
join the world Conservative movement, and for that reason, the Jewish Agency
only recognized the Abayudaya as an official Jewish community from that year.
The assumption is that anyone who was converted after 2009 will have a better
chance of entering Israel. (Kimani, however, was converted in 2010, and that
did not prevent him from being deported.)
 |
| Yehudah Kimani blows the shofar with his son. Courtesy of Francis Kimani |
The status of the Abayudaya
community has been under discussion between the Conservative movement, the
Jewish Agency and the Interior Ministry for the past five years. The ministry
still does not recognize members of the community as Jewish and, in response to
queries over the years, has said it is still studying the matter. The ministry
has the final say on who gets recognized as a Jew in Israel and who is allowed
to enter the country.
community has been under discussion between the Conservative movement, the
Jewish Agency and the Interior Ministry for the past five years. The ministry
still does not recognize members of the community as Jewish and, in response to
queries over the years, has said it is still studying the matter. The ministry
has the final say on who gets recognized as a Jew in Israel and who is allowed
to enter the country.
Asiimwe Rabbin, a 28-year-old
member of the community, applied last year to immigrate to Israel under the Law
of Return after visiting the country. Anyone with at least one Jewish
grandparent or a Jewish spouse, or anyone who has converted in a recognized Jewish
community (regardless of the affiliation) is eligible to immigrate under the
Law of Return.
member of the community, applied last year to immigrate to Israel under the Law
of Return after visiting the country. Anyone with at least one Jewish
grandparent or a Jewish spouse, or anyone who has converted in a recognized Jewish
community (regardless of the affiliation) is eligible to immigrate under the
Law of Return.
Last week, Rabbin received a
letter from the Jewish Agency notifying him that, for the meantime, his request
had been rejected because the Interior Ministry had still not recognized the
Abayudaya community as Jewish. Any decision on the matter, the letter warned,
“can take several years.”
letter from the Jewish Agency notifying him that, for the meantime, his request
had been rejected because the Interior Ministry had still not recognized the
Abayudaya community as Jewish. Any decision on the matter, the letter warned,
“can take several years.”
Jewish Agency representatives met
last week with Interior Ministry officials hoping to obtain guarantees that the
Birthright group from Uganda would be welcomed into Israel. No agreement of
substance came out of the discussion, and a follow-up meeting has been
scheduled for next week.
last week with Interior Ministry officials hoping to obtain guarantees that the
Birthright group from Uganda would be welcomed into Israel. No agreement of
substance came out of the discussion, and a follow-up meeting has been
scheduled for next week.
Birthright has brought more than
500,000 participants to Israel from 67 countries since its inception in 1999.
Several members of the Abayudaya community have taken part in other programs in
Israel in recent years, but this would be the first time such a large group was
coming.
500,000 participants to Israel from 67 countries since its inception in 1999.
Several members of the Abayudaya community have taken part in other programs in
Israel in recent years, but this would be the first time such a large group was
coming.
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