As per reports, the government of Israel has banned the Ethiopian Christian pilgrim groups. They can not enter the country for the upcoming Easter holiday over fear they will not return home.
As per some sources, there is one letter, which is received by the tourism agencies and that letter sent to them by Population and Immigration Authority in which they stated that there is an ongoing civil war in Ethiopia, there were concerns “these tourists will not head back due to it”.
The letter also indicated that any Ethiopian resident who wants to visit Israel must visit so personally by contacting the government online.
The network also stated that Israel officially did not impose any such restrictions on pilgrims from other countries.
The head of the Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association’ Yossi Ftal’ wrote an official letter to Interior Minister’ Ayelet Shaked’ in order to criticise the policy as “several discriminatory.” He stated groups in Ethiopia had contacted Israeli officials in protest.
The population authority explained the policy in response to the report, stating that “many groups of tourists who arrived from Ethiopia over the past years have indeed not returned and settled in Israel and illegally, without informing or contracting with the government.”
Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett’s made a statement stating that the cabinet unanimously agreed to allow 3,000 Ethiopians who have first-degree relatives in Israel to enter the country “immediately”.
It recognised those with “first-degree relatives” as having a parent, child or sibling in Israel. Those eligible for immigration are allowed to bring their spouses, minor children, and unmarried adult children.
He also added that a person whose parents came to Israel and died here would also be allowed to immigrate,” it said.
According to Immigration Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, “this is an important decision for the Ethiopian community in Israel and their families.”
