Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - Over 2,500 Ethiopian Jews have stopped their almost week-long hunger strike against Tel Aviv’s alleged neglect, after one member died and over 40 were hospitalized, a local English weekly reported Friday.
The community started the hunger strike Monday, to force Israel to take them to what they regard as the promised land.
They ended the strike Thursday night following the death of one member. Two of the over 40 in hospital are in critical condition, according to the weekly Sub-Saharan Informer.
So far, there are no official statements from Israeli Embassy in Addis Ababa over the issue.
The Israeli government had ignored their repeated pleas after they moved to Addis Ababa from their homeland in Gondar, northern Ethiopia, the community coordinator said.
Some 6,000 Ethiopian Jews (Felasha-Muras) have spent nearly one decade near the Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa, hoping to benefit from easy travel arrangements promised by Tel Aviv.
Ethiopian Jews are estimated at more than 300,000, and nearly 22,000 are hoping to be ferried to Israel.
Those so far taken to Israel reportedly suffer isolation and racism, despite Israeli government's claims that it is working to integrate them.
Some 120,000 Ethiopian immigrants live in Israel and constitute 1.53 per cent of the total number of citizens.
Of these, 4,500 have some academic qualifications, but only 782 members of the community are employed as civil servants, representing about 1.40 per cent of the 61,000 state employees in the Jewish state.
The community started the hunger strike Monday, to force Israel to take them to what they regard as the promised land.
They ended the strike Thursday night following the death of one member. Two of the over 40 in hospital are in critical condition, according to the weekly Sub-Saharan Informer.
So far, there are no official statements from Israeli Embassy in Addis Ababa over the issue.
The Israeli government had ignored their repeated pleas after they moved to Addis Ababa from their homeland in Gondar, northern Ethiopia, the community coordinator said.
Some 6,000 Ethiopian Jews (Felasha-Muras) have spent nearly one decade near the Israeli embassy in Addis Ababa, hoping to benefit from easy travel arrangements promised by Tel Aviv.
Ethiopian Jews are estimated at more than 300,000, and nearly 22,000 are hoping to be ferried to Israel.
Those so far taken to Israel reportedly suffer isolation and racism, despite Israeli government's claims that it is working to integrate them.
Some 120,000 Ethiopian immigrants live in Israel and constitute 1.53 per cent of the total number of citizens.
Of these, 4,500 have some academic qualifications, but only 782 members of the community are employed as civil servants, representing about 1.40 per cent of the 61,000 state employees in the Jewish state.
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