Holding banners and waving flags, the Ethiopian Israelis were overjoyed to reunite with family members who have waited for years to return to Israel. The Israeli cabinet decided last year to resume aliyah operations to bring the last remnant of the Ethiopian Jewish community to Israel. Some 9,000 Jews are still waiting in Ethiopia for Israeli government approval to make aliyah. The ICEJ, a global Christian ministry based in Jerusalem, has provided funding to the Jewish Agency to sponsor the flights of hundreds of Ethiopian Jews who have been anxiously waiting for many years to reunite with family members in Israel. The ICEJ has committed to sponsoring the entire first year of renewed Ethiopian aliyah, during which 1,400 new immigrants are expected.

Source: Ethiopian News June 08, 2017 08:26 UTC