The reason for this substantial amount of immigrants identifying as Christians is that their aliyah is considered a humanitarian act, of reuniting family members.
By ZVIKA KLEIN
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Two-thirds of the immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel between 2020 and 2022 identified as Christians, according to official data from the Population and Immigration Authority. The official data was publicized by the Israeli Immigration Policy Center (IIPC) and was seen by The Jerusalem Post.
It reveals that out of the more than five thousand immigrants from Ethiopia who arrived in Israel as part of Operation Tzur Israel, 3,301 identified as Christians. In contrast, only about 1,773 identified as descendants of Jews, though this was unable to be confirmed according to Israeli authorities. Notably, none of them were found to be eligible for aliyah under the Law of Return.
The reason for this substantial amount of immigrants identifying as Christians is that their aliyah is considered a humanitarian act, of reuniting family members. Therefore, it is assumed that many of those who are members of the “Jewish communities,” in Ethiopia are actually not Jewish and actually practicing a different religion.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
