Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Sauron · 12-27-2004, 08:17 PM

Two points here:

1. Outside financial assistance (i.e., screwing the US taxpayer) is being offered here.

2. In spite of #1, Israel is still dragging its feet on absorbing these immigrants.

With the economic excuse thus removed, what other reason could there be, for Israel to resist integrating black Jews into its society? Hell; the question practically answers itself, doesn't it?

Maybe if they changed their name to Schwartz.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satelli...=1104122544946

Quote:

Congressmen blast Israel for slow pace of Ethiopian aliya
By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER

Two US congressmen have written to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon urging him to increase the rate of absorption of Ethiopians and criticizing the government for bringing only 300 each month.

Despite Sharon's assurances in the summer of 2003 that the immigration was being accelerated, the letter said, "We have been distressed, however, to learn that the pace of immigration from Ethiopia has averaged only 300 each month in spite of the dire poverty faced by the Ethiopian Jewish community."
[...]
n their letter, Nadler and Rangel mention their interest in discussing "how we might be of additional help in completing the ingathering of the Ethiopian Jewish community to our great ally, Israel."

Though the document doesn't specify the type of assistance possible, Nadler told The Jerusalem Post,/i>, "If Israel asks for additional funds for the absorption of refugees, we would certainly work to secure those funds, and there's a good chance Congress would provide them."

In fact, in a letter to Sharon and Poraz written in 2003, the two questioned why Israel was requesting less American aid for absorbing refugees – $50 million in 2004, down from $60m. the year before.

"It has come to our understanding that you are concerned about a lack of funds to handle the cost of implementing the [February 2003] decision. We are therefore puzzled to hear that Israel might be seeking fewer funds from Congress," they wrote.

Michael Janklowitz, a Jewish Agency spokesman, confirmed that US funding for resettling refugees fell from $60m. to its current level of $50m., but said that the allocation is the result of formula by the American government set on a per-capita basis. Since fewer people immigrated from the former Soviet Union, the amount of aid correspondingly dropped.

He added that American Jewish communities have offered to provide funding for additional absorption of Ethiopians, and that the congressmen's letters are merely the result of lobbying by the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry.

Janklowitz also noted that at the end of November Jewish Agency chairman Sallai Meridor called on the government for the first time to increase the rate of absorption of Falash Mura.

At that time, Meridor declared, "The economic arguments for the restrictions are baseless; quickening the pace of immigration would not raise costs... It is not right to hamper the pace of immigration from any country in the world; this is the only case of this happening in the history of the State of Israel. On the personal level, this is causing unnecessary suffering among those whose immigration has been approved." Meridor spoke ahead of a hearing in an ongoing High Court case seeking to force the government to implement its February 2003 decision.

msboyd · 12-28-2004, 10:11 AM

I worked in Israel about 12 years ago, with quite a few Ethopian immigrants. The racism was very open and unapologetic; 'native' Israelis (not everyone of course, but certainly not a minority in the area I worked) would very openly insult them or speak as if there were not there. It was very odd to see.

Having said that, I saw much more acceptance among educated, urban Israelis -- it seemed to be something of a 'class war' issue.

J-D · 01-13-2005, 04:05 PM

They'd definitely be better off in one of the countries where there is no racial discrimination ... if there were any ...

Sauron · 01-13-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-D

They'd definitely be better off in one of the countries where there is no racial discrimination ... if there were any ...

1. Some people around here have claimed that Israel has no such discrimination. Which is the reason why such posts are important - to correct the fantasy.

2. The fact that no country is free from racial discrimination does not excuse the behavior of Israel. If Israel wants to count itself as a western-style democracy, the standards are higher.

3. Nor does the the fact that no country is free from racial discrimination somehow mean that all countries are equal in this regard. It's perfectly legal to differentiate the *more* discriminatory countries, from those less so.

Epinoia · 01-13-2005, 04:55 PM

Yabbut Sauron, there is that reported issue that a lot of the Ethiopian men aren't circumcised. I understand this is a must for being a Jew. That rows and rows of uncut dicks raises suspicion is not in itself that unsurprising.

Racism still cannot be ruled out, of course. Especially when compared against the Russian experience.

Fatewarns · 01-13-2005, 04:57 PM

The Israeli government itself is definitely not racist. Hell, they helped to bring tens of thousands of totally uneducated Ethiopian Jews to Israel that really would have had very little economic benefit. Among the Israeli population, some hate them because they feel they are resisting assimilation into Israeli culture (not learning Hebrew, etc). Some Israelis also dislike Russians as well, so it really isn't racial discrimination.

Epinoia · 01-13-2005, 05:07 PM

F.W., to clarify: In saying "Russians," I meant that apparently a lot of them got thru without actually being Jews. Whether dick check was a part of that, I don't know.

extinctionist · 01-13-2005, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Whether dick check was a part of that, I don't know.

Female immigrants into the UK used to be subjected to genital examinations on arrival to check if they were 'pure'. See why those kind of jokes aren't funny?

Sauron · 01-13-2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatewarns

The Israeli government itself is definitely not racist. Hell, they helped to bring tens of thousands of totally uneducated Ethiopian Jews to Israel that really would have had very little economic benefit.

In point of fact, most of the Ethiopian Jews are not even in Israel yet. Your claim is nonsense.

Quote:

Among the Israeli population, some hate them because they feel they are resisting assimilation into Israeli culture (not learning Hebrew, etc). Some Israelis also dislike Russians as well, so it really isn't racial discrimination.

Really weird. And wrong.

The fact that some Israelis don't like Russians, doesn't refute the fact that Israeli society (and govt policy) is racist. The two aren't even connected.

Fatewarns · 01-13-2005, 06:24 PM

Quote:

In point of fact, most of the Ethiopian Jews are not even in Israel yet. Your claim is nonsense.

About 60,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel. About 5,000 confirmed Ethiopian Jews live in Ethiopia. Where's your claim?

Quote:

The fact that some Israelis don't like Russians, doesn't refute the fact that Israeli society (and govt policy) is racist. The two aren't even connected.

I haven't seen many signs of the Israeli government being racist towards blacks.

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12-28-2004, 10:11 AM	#2
msboyd Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Haverford, PA, USA Posts: 478	I worked in Israel about 12 years ago, with quite a few Ethopian immigrants. The racism was very open and unapologetic; 'native' Israelis (not everyone of course, but certainly not a minority in the area I worked) would very openly insult them or speak as if there were not there. It was very odd to see. Having said that, I saw much more acceptance among educated, urban Israelis -- it seemed to be something of a 'class war' issue.

01-13-2005, 04:05 PM	#3
J-D Moderator - General Religious Discussions Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New South Wales Posts: 27,330	They'd definitely be better off in one of the countries where there is no racial discrimination ... if there were any ...

01-13-2005, 04:55 PM	#5
Epinoia Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sodom, USA Posts: 200	Yabbut Sauron, there is that reported issue that a lot of the Ethiopian men aren't circumcised. I understand this is a must for being a Jew. That rows and rows of uncut dicks raises suspicion is not in itself that unsurprising. Racism still cannot be ruled out, of course. Especially when compared against the Russian experience.

01-13-2005, 04:57 PM	#6
Fatewarns Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: California Posts: 206	The Israeli government itself is definitely not racist. Hell, they helped to bring tens of thousands of totally uneducated Ethiopian Jews to Israel that really would have had very little economic benefit. Among the Israeli population, some hate them because they feel they are resisting assimilation into Israeli culture (not learning Hebrew, etc). Some Israelis also dislike Russians as well, so it really isn't racial discrimination.

01-13-2005, 05:07 PM	#7
Epinoia Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sodom, USA Posts: 200	F.W., to clarify: In saying "Russians," I meant that apparently a lot of them got thru without actually being Jews. Whether dick check was a part of that, I don't know.

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