Quick Watch1:08
Avi Maharat, 32 (left) and Daniel Gola, 23, attend state ceremony in remembrance of Ethiopian Jews who died on their journey to Israel, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, May 17, 2015. (Renee Ghert-Zand/Times of Israel)
Several thousand young Israelis of Ethiopian heritage gathered together with their elders at the national cemetery on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl on Sunday for a state ceremony in remembrance of the approximately 4,000 Jews from Ethiopia who died on their perilous journeys to Israel from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
Variously dressed in traditional costume, jeans and T-shirts, or military or youth group uniforms, the young people had come to remember their past. However, it was present events — namely recent mass protests by Ethiopian Israelis against racism and de facto segregation in Israeli society — that served as the filter through which they heard speeches delivered by President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders.
“This year something happened. In recent weeks we have all seen and heard the cries and pain of Israelis of Ethiopian origin. The protesters uncovered an open wound, alive and bleeding within Israeli society. We heard a wounded community that voiced their heartfelt cries of feelings of discrimination, racism, insult and lack of response,” said Rivlin.
Netanyahu recounted how he had heard from young representatives of the 135,000-strong Ethiopian Israeli community that they were afraid to walk the street because of their skin color.
“I am unwilling to accept this — not in this country. Not in the country of the Jews,” he said.
The prime minister promised to root out racism and discrimination in Israeli society, adding that his government was putting together a comprehensive plan to assist the Ethiopian Israeli community.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at state ceremony in remembrance of Ethiopian Jews who died on their journey to Israel, Mount Herzl, Jerualem, May 17, 2015. (Gil Yochanan/POOL)
Ze’ev Elkin, speaking for the first time in his new role as minister for immigration and absorption, asserted that plans for moving forward must be made in close cooperation with leaders from the Ethiopian Israeli community, both young and old.
“We will do it hand-in-hand. We owe it to the 4,000 who died trying to achieve their dream of reaching Jerusalem,” he said.
Yael, 29, from Gush Etzion, was wary about the “comprehensive plan” Netanyahu mentioned was being formulated to help Ethiopian Israelis.
‘Change is only going to come with a change of consciousness among Israelis’
“They always do projects to help us. This project and that project, but these projects only end up segregating us from the rest of society,” she said, echoing warnings about the effects ofseparate, but not equal,treatment long issued by young leaders of the Ethiopian community and academics who have studied the absorption of Ethiopian immigrants.
“Change is only going to come with a change of consciousness among Israelis,” said Yael, who, like most of the young people who spoke to The Times of Israel, refused to provide her last name.
Although pleased that the prime minister spoke about the protest movement and its causes, Yael’s 36-year-old sister Zehavit, who lives near Ashkelon, said she questioned his sincerity.
“I didn’t like how he is so political. When the protests happened, he didn’t really address them. And now here, where the focus is supposed to be honoring those who have died, he spoke first about racism and discrimination and only then addressed the purpose of the ceremony,” said Zehavit.
Members of the Ethiopian Israeli community light a torch at state ceremony in remembrance of Ethiopian Jews who died on their journey to Israel, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, May 17, 2015. (Gil Yochanan/POOL)
“We all identify with and support the cause,” said Daniel Gola, 23, from Kiryat Gat, about the protests. “But we came here today to honor those who died on the way.”
Not all the young people at the ceremony were critical of either the content or the timing of the Israeli leaders’ messages.
Twenty-eight-year-old Ami from Kfar Saba was all smiles as he exited the ceremony. Characterizing himself as “an optimist,” he said he was hopeful that Israel’s leaders will do something to improve the lives of Ethiopian Israelis.
‘We need to keep making noise’
“I was very moved by the prime minister’s remarks. It’s really nice that someone outside the Ethiopian community understands and is ready to help. It’s nice to come here and see that there is a sense of identification with us,” he said.
According to Ayelet, a 19-year-old youth group leader who was in attendance with a group of young charges, more public demonstrations by the Ethiopian Israeli community are needed.
Just as she got up to leave the ceremony, a man climbed on a chair nearby and loudly announced plans for another demonstration in Tel Aviv, where on May 3 protesters violently clashed with police.
“The war continues! Everyone come to Rothschild [Boulevard, in Tel Aviv] tomorrow!” the man shouted.
“We need to keep making noise,” said Ayelet in agreement.
Source: timesofisrael.com
No comments:
Post a Comment