The Cabinet will on Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5775, discuss the formation of a ministerial committee to advance the integration of Israeli citizens of Ethiopian descent into Israeli society, to be chaired by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The committee’s responsibilities will include dealing with and advancing the affairs of Israelis of Ethiopian descent vis-à-vis employment, social welfare, education and health.

Prime Minister Netanyahu made the following remarks earlier this week in his address at the Memorial Ceremony for Ethiopian Jews who Perished During Their Journey to Israel:

“Roughly two weeks ago, I met with several of you. It was a moving meeting, and if I may say so, one that shook me to my core.

“I heard complaints of racism, discrimination, deprivation, excessive force.You told me of your fear to walk in the streets because of the color of your skin. I cannot accept this, not in our country, not in the Jewish state.

“This week, I will establish a special ministerial committee, under my leadership, to address all these issues and many others.

“We will present a comprehensive plan to the government to assist you along the way. But beyond the program, and other programs and resources and projects, there is one clear principle – there is no room for racism and discrimination in our society. None.

“We will fight with all our strength against these unacceptable practices. We will simply uproot them from our lives. We will turn them into something looked down upon, something contemptible.

“There are societies which succeeded in rising above this morass. We brought human dignity to civilization – we, the Jews – and we will ensure that human dignity will find expression in our one and only state.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)