Civic
35 articles
August 30, 2026
Jerusalem Post opinion: give Gabi Worku, winner of the primaries' immigrants' race, a realistic slot
Shmuel Legesse, whose previous op-ed we covered, now calls on the prime minister to place Gabi Worku — a veteran Likud activist from Haifa who won the primaries' immigrants' race — in a realistic list position: "primaries become meaningless if members' choices are buried beneath appointments".
August 30, 2026
32 kessim sign a letter to Netanyahu: reserve a slot for the community on the Likud list
After MK Tsega Melaku withdrew from the primaries, 32 spiritual leaders of the community signed a letter asking the prime minister to guarantee her a reserved slot. Internal Likud polling suggests Melaku could bring support worth roughly half a Knesset seat from the Ethiopian-Israeli community.
August 14, 2026
MK Tsega Melaku withdraws from the Likud primaries race
MK Tsega Melaku announced she would not run in Likud's primaries, held the following Monday. She said "the immigrant-reserved seat is blocked" and there is no realistic path to a winnable slot — a move that could leave the Ethiopian-Israeli community without a representative on the Likud list.
July 12, 2026
Gadi Yevarkan leaves Likud, establishes a new party — "Beit Israel"
Former MK and former Deputy Minister of Public Security, of Ethiopian descent, announced his departure from Likud and the founding of an independent party focused on economic welfare, including advancing a "pension law."
June 19, 2026
A first for the police: a member of the Ethiopian community leads the Ethiopian-Israeli desk
Superintendent Eli Senbetu has been appointed, for the first time, to head the Ethiopian-Israeli desk in the Israel Police — a step in improving police-community relations, per a ynet investigation.
June 19, 2026
ynet investigation: 'Police racism against Ethiopian-Israelis hasn't disappeared — it just changed form'
More than a decade after Yosef Salamsa's death, an investigation documents declining overt violence alongside subtler systemic discrimination — alongside the first appointment of an Ethiopian-Israeli officer to head a dedicated police unit.
June 19, 2026
"7 Days" investigation: police sorted stations by a "traffic-light model" — 5 stations rated "red"
A ynet investigation revealed police sorted 26 stations with significant Ethiopian-Israeli populations by a "traffic-light model" — 5, including Kiryat Gat and Kiryat Malakhi, rated "red." Enforcement data hasn't been published since 2023.
June 3, 2026
Military Service for Ethiopian-Israelis: Benefits, Special Units and Rights Before and After Enlistment
78% of Ethiopian-Israeli soldiers serve in combat roles. Yahalom unit, enlistment benefits and how to use your discharge rights.
June 3, 2026
Service Year, Nuclei and Leadership: Opportunities for Young Ethiopian-Israelis
Service year for ages 18-22 — an opportunity to develop leadership, strengthen identity and gain experience before the army or academia.
June 3, 2026
Criminal Record Expungement — The New Law: Who Is Eligible and How to Apply
The Knesset passed a law allowing expungement of old criminal records. For the Ethiopian-Israeli community — an opportunity for a fresh start.
June 3, 2026
Ethiopian-Israeli Knesset Members: History, Achievements and Current Representation
From Pnina Tamano-Shata to Sigalit Jelicha — mapping all Ethiopian-Israeli MKs, their achievements and what is still missing.
June 3, 2026
Rental Discrimination: Your Rights and How to File a Complaint
A landlord who refuses to rent because of Ethiopian origin commits a criminal offence. Tools, documentation and how to fight back.
June 3, 2026
Affirmative Representation in Civil Service: How Ethiopian-Israelis Can Apply
The Affirmative Representation Law mandates 2% of government jobs for Ethiopian-Israelis. Currently only 1.2% — a huge opportunity.
June 3, 2026
Haifa — Ethiopian-Israeli Community Guide
Haifa: ~11,000 Ethiopian-Israeli residents. Neighbourhoods, university, organisations and community services.
June 3, 2026
Ashkelon — Ethiopian-Israeli Community Guide
Ashkelon: ~9,000 Ethiopian-Israeli residents. Neighbourhoods, organisations, welfare services and community info.
June 3, 2026
Marriage and Divorce in the Ethiopian-Israeli Community: Customs, Rabbinate and What To Do
Traditional marriage customs, Rabbinate recognition of Ethiopian marriages, and how to handle divorce when needed.
May 31, 2026
Support for Ethiopian-Israeli women at risk of violence — who to call and where to go
An inter-ministerial committee was established after femicides in the community. A practical guide — what to do, who to call, and how to leave safely.
May 31, 2026
Ethiopian-Israeli community in Kiryat Malachi — 2026 guide
Kiryat Malachi: 13.8% of the population is of Ethiopian origin — the highest proportional concentration in Israel.
May 31, 2026
Ethiopian-Israeli community in Beersheba — 2026 guide
~9,000 community members in Beersheba, concentrated in Neve Ze'ev and Ramat Eshkol, with access to Ben-Gurion University and unique employment hubs.
May 31, 2026
Ethiopian-Israeli community in Netanya — 2026 guide
Netanya has the largest Ethiopian-Israeli community in Israel — 13,300 people. Organizations, services, and key contacts.
May 31, 2026
Rights when dealing with police — a practical guide for the community
Stopped? Being searched? The 2015 and 2019 protests changed the conversation — here is what you must know.
May 31, 2026
Diabetes in the Ethiopian-Israeli community — prevention and management
17% of Ethiopian-Israelis have diabetes — the highest rate among Jewish groups. Risk factors, tests you are entitled to, and clinics.
May 31, 2026
Mental health in the Ethiopian-Israeli community — 2026 resource guide
Ethiopian-Israelis are hospitalized in psychiatric wards at twice their population share. What services exist, how to access them, and where to get help.
May 20, 2026
Police "traffic light model" — 5 stations flagged as problematic on Ethiopian-Israeli relations
Israel Police has formulated, for the first time, a model classifying 26 major stations as green/yellow/red, as part of implementing Government Decision 3243. Five stations were flagged "red": Kiryat Gat, Rehovot, Yavne, Afula and Kiryat Malachi.
May 15, 2026
The Blood Affair 1996 — what happened, and what changed
January 1996: it was revealed that blood banks were secretly discarding Ethiopian-Israeli donations. The protest that followed changed Israel.
April 20, 2026
Order 50 and affirmative representation in civil service — 2024 status
Current representation 1.7%, target 2.5% by 2027. Policy changes, ministry breakdown, and practical claim tools.
April 12, 2026
Racism at a clothing store toward a woman of Ethiopian descent — Tebeka takes up the case
A woman of Ethiopian descent who entered a clothing store for a routine purchase was ignored by the salesperson and later met with a humiliating response involving racist remarks. She turned to Tebeka for documentation and legal handling.
February 25, 2026
President Herzog meets Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa
Herzog and Abiy Ahmed met in Addis Ababa and discussed improving cooperation on issues of mutual interest, days after Netanyahu proposed a regional 'hexagon' alliance. About 160,000 Jews of Ethiopian descent currently live in Israel.
February 10, 2026
State Comptroller opens audit of government decisions on Ethiopian Jewish aliyah
State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman announced in the Knesset a new audit on the implementation of government decisions regarding the aliyah of the remaining Ethiopian Jewish community and "Zera Israel," and dedicated his remarks to the memory of Sgt. Asi Sama, who fell in the Iron Swords war.
February 5, 2026
Racism at a gas station: a discharged combat veteran of Ethiopian descent turns to Tebeka
A customer at a gas station used severe racist slurs against a young discharged combat veteran of Ethiopian descent who asked her to wait her turn. The station manager backed him, and Tebeka opened a legal process.
February 1, 2026
About 2,000 Ethiopian-Israeli protesters rally at the Knesset, demanding Aliyah resume
The 'Koach LaAliyah' organization staged a protest at the Knesset demanding the government increase the Aliyah budget and bring family members to Israel, amid roughly 10,000 waiting in Ethiopia and a worsening civil war.
January 8, 2026
PM's Office publishes report on the national program for integrating Ethiopian-Israelis
A summary report on the government program to integrate Ethiopian-Israelis ("New Path") details roughly ₪209.6 million in allocations, local authority projects, and bias-reduction efforts in social services.
December 29, 2025
Tebeka reports another case of alleged police violence — appeals to the State Attorney's Office
The organization alleges the use of excessive and disproportionate force against a young Ethiopian-Israeli man in southern Israel, and has appealed to reopen the case after the police internal affairs unit closed it.
December 11, 2025
Protest in Ashdod and criminal charges follow a violent arrest — the Mengistu case
A violent arrest of an Ashdod resident coping with mental distress sparked a wave of protest in the Ethiopian-Israeli community. The Public Defender's Office and police present differing accounts of the incident.
November 17, 2025
Knesset committee: "Halting aliyah from Ethiopia is a disgrace to the State of Israel"
Aliyah, Absorption and Diaspora Committee chair MK Gilad Kariv attacked the government over the halt in aliyah from Ethiopia, and pledged to work toward resuming it. Most post-war aliyah has come from Russia, the US and France — while aliyah from Ethiopia remains stalled.