Published: June 19, 2026 · Tedros Editorial
ynet investigation: 'Police racism against Ethiopian-Israelis hasn't disappeared — it just changed form'
An investigation by ynet, published more than a decade after the death of Yosef Salamsa, documents that severe, overt police violence against Ethiopian-Israelis has declined — but, per the investigation, systemic discrimination continues in subtler forms.
What the investigation documents
Examples cited in the investigation include: unlawful arrests of minors, "profiling" (flagging suspects based on appearance), and cases where teachers discover open criminal files against them only during routine employment background checks.
A significant figure noted in the investigation: Ethiopian-Israelis make up about 2.2% of Israel's total population, but about 9% of detainees — a notable gap between their share of the population and their share of detentions.
Police stopped publishing data
According to the investigation, police stopped publishing enforcement data specific to Ethiopian-Israelis after 2023 — a move that makes it harder for the public and journalists to track trends in this area.
A positive appointment
The same report also notes that Superintendent Eli Sanbatu was appointed for the first time to head a dedicated Ethiopian-Israeli affairs unit within the police, under the criminal investigations division — a step the investigation presents as part of an effort to improve police-community relations.
Source
Based on a ynet investigation from June 19, 2026: ynet