Flash in Israel .. Partners in the Zionist project despite racism

Mohamed Mohsen Wedd - Occupied Jerusalem

After the outbreak of the Falasha protests in Israel - which came in protest against the killing of an Ethiopian-born boy by an Israeli police officer - the fire broke out in the Jewish community between supporters and opponents of the demonstrations despite the consensus on the existence of manifestations of racism and discrimination against Ethiopian Jews.

While the positions differed between the understanding and the resentment of the scenes of chaos that accompanied the 150 thousand Falasha Jews' protests - about half of them born in the country - the positions appeared to be an integral part of Israel and partners in the Zionist project.

Israeli voices - particularly among politicians - advocated the adoption of a discriminatory preference policy to improve the living conditions of Ethiopian Jews and to continue their integration with the institutions of Israeli society.

Faced with the intensity of the protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to admit in part that Ethiopian Jews faced problems, discrimination and racism, but stressed that they were an integral part of the state and appealed to the public to stop closing roads.

Netanyahu called for dialogue and appointed Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan to visit the family of the boy who was shot dead by a policeman to offer condolences.

Rhetoric and frequency
This recognition prompted Netanyahu's son, Yayar Netanyahu, to sharply criticize the protests, and wrote a tweet on Twitter accusing the new fund for Israel and the "stand together" organization, which receives donations from Germany to ignite and finance the Falashas.

"What would have happened if the Israeli government had financed German organizations that burn police cars, close roads and act violently on the streets of Berlin?" He asked.

In light of the hesitant position of the Israeli government on the situation of the Falasha, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin called for a halt to violent demonstrations and an investigation into the killing of the Ethiopian boy, the removal of the Falashas and the creation of equal opportunities to accelerate their integration into society.

In contrast to the lukewarm and critical positions in Israeli society of the loud protests, Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz, a Jew of Moroccan origin, strongly criticized these voices, confirmed his support for the Falasha Jews and called for the establishment of an official commission of inquiry.

Discrimination and conflict
In an attempt to justify the Falasha protests as coming in the context of the election campaign of opposition parties on the eve of the 22nd Knesset elections to be held on 17 September, journalist Amit Segal wrote an article entitled "The Right to Demonstrate and to Evacuate Demonstrations."

Siegel defended Israel's reality, citing the claims that Israeli society is racially superior to other societies. He pointed out that the roots of strained relations between Jews and Arabs in the country stem from the 150-year-old national conflict, regardless of skin color, identity or nationality. The extent of his words.

In order to shed light on the reality of racism and discrimination against the Falashas, ​​Ha'aretz gave a platform for Ethiopian Jews to review the scenes of racism and marginalization faced by the Falashas, ​​not only from the official establishment and government ministries, but from the Jewish majority.

"The Israeli police harass and harass every Ethiopian boy and boy. It does not matter whether he is from a good house or where his parents are working or working. His skin color makes him a suspect automatically. You can not live with this reality," said social worker Timmark Makorieh.

The same sentiment was expressed by Tzion Ghatun, who lives with his wife and three daughters in the settlement of Ofra, summarizing the reality of what his 7-year-old daughter said when Israeli television stations broadcast the protests, saying, "My parents, they do not harass us in our land."

Asked about the future of young Ethiopians in Israel, the murdered soldier Idan Zumroa, who was born in the country to parents of Ethiopian origin, said: "My skin color has always been a cause of harassment, discrimination and even racism."

Service and integration
The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper adopted the same approach in its coverage of the reality of the Falasha Jews. She went on to talk about racism, discrimination and marginalization, but highlighted personal stories that she considered successful for their integration, describing them as partners in building state institutions.

According to the newspaper, the experience of Hadas Matali Metsri, 34, is considered a "Zionist myth." She married Mossad agent Eli Metsri, who oversaw the first mass immigration campaigns of the Falasha. Her father, Jubaou Maldi, also smuggled groups of Ethiopian Jews to Sudan, He was declared a "prisoner of Zion".

Hadas graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva and joined the Israeli army. She was the first female doctor of Ethiopian origin to serve in the air force, but she says that military service has not been accompanied by her.