March 13, 2005
2 Adar II, 5765

Decision No. ETP/3 of the Ministerial Committee for the Remnants
of Ethiopian Jewry of 21.02.2005

The complete version of the government's decision of 21.02.05 regarding the immigration to Israel of the Falash Mura community in Ethiopia.

Bringing the Falash Mura to Israel

It has been decided, further to decision ETP/2 by the Ministerial Committee for the Remnants of Ethiopian Jewry of 17.11.2004 and further to a summary of the discussion held in the Prime Minister's Office on 31.1.2005:

1. By the end of 2007 around 13,000 Falash Mura will be brought to Israel in accordance with the finalized and agreed upon list of potential immigrants (hereinunder: "the survey") approved by the Ministry of Interior and that includes 7,188 persons, of whom 4,300 have to date immigrated to Israel (based on the test determined in Cabinet Decision No. 2948 of 16.2.2003).

   For the purpose of making due preparations prior to the implementation of the above, the following actions will be taken:

   1. An interministerial committee will be established for the purpose of formulating an overall and comprehensive program on the subject by 31.3.2005.
      The committee will consist of:
      Director-General of the Ministry of Interior – Chairman
      Director-General of the Ministry of Housing & Construction
      Director-General of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
      Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
      Director-General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption
      Director-General of the Ministry of Labor and Social affairs
      Budget Director, Ministry of Finance
      Director-General of the Jewish Agency
   2. The program will include:
      • Cessation of all activity by organizations operating in Ethiopia and their undertaking to refrain from resuming these activities.
      • At the same time the Jewish Agency will assume responsibility for all camps, which will include coordinated activities with government ministries in the areas of welfare, education, health, religious conversion, vocational training, etc.
      • Presentation of budgetary sources (government and Jewish Agency funds), due preparation on the part of immigrant absorption bodies (including preparation of Jewish Agency absorption centers) for optimal absorption in Israel over the next three years.

2. The plan to be presented to the ministerial committee for approval is to be presented to the Prime Minister by the end of April, 2005.
3. In accordance with the plan and its implementation as stipulated in paragraphs a.2(a) and (b) above, and subject to approval of the budget and the financing sources for the implementation of the government decision as required, as from June 2005, the arrival rate of the Falash Mura in Israel will be doubled.
4. The Ministry of the Interior and the Jewish Agency will cooperate to accelerate the process of examining the eligibility of those waiting for immigration clearance, both in Ethiopia and in Israeli.
5. At the end of 2007, when the last of the Falash Mura has been brought to Israel in accordance with the survey described in paragraph a. above, the camps in Ethiopia will be closed.

For further information contact:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press
The Jewish Agency for Israel
Cell: 050-7601706
Voicemail: 02-6202780
e-mail: michaelj@jazo.org.il