Ethiopia has enacted a law that will give special rights to Jews of Ethiopian origin and Rastafarians that are normally reserved to Ethiopian citizens. He, however, says the new law excludes Jews of Ethiopian origin and Rastafarians from voting rights, employment in security related institutions and MoFA. The two communities will also be given an Ethiopian national Identification Card that would allow entering Ethiopia without entrance visas and residence permits. The Ethiopian government believes there are about 150,000 Jews of Ethiopian Origin living abroad mainly in the Jewish state of Israel. The Ethiopian government is keen to tap into this large Ethiopian origin Jewish Diaspora, who in recent years has made inroads in Israel in diplomacy, military and cultural scene.

Source: Ethiopian News July 28, 2017 08:37 UTC