Ethiopian-Israelis seek US intervention against Ethiopian government
“The United States must condemn the murders of Ethiopian citizens. I joined because I care about Ethiopia."
By ELIYAHU KAMISHERUpdated: SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 12:58Ehtiopian Protesters in front of US embassy Tel Aviv(photo credit: ENDALAMAW HAILEI)
Hundreds of Israelis of Ethiopian decent gathered in front of the US embassy on Monday in hopes of urging the US government to stop supporting the Ethiopian government, which they contend is oppressive and anti-democratic.“The United States must condemn the murders of Ethiopian citizens,” protestor Endalamaw Hailei told The Jerusalem Post, “I joined because I care about Ethiopia.Anti-government protests in the Oromira and Amhara regions of Ethiopia began in November 2015. A June Human Rights Watch Report stated that over 400 Ethiopians have been killed in clashes with the government, while this August 97 protesters died in clashes according to Amnesty International.Israel’s Ethiopian community numbers some 140,000 many of whom still have family in Ethiopia.According to protestors, the decision to picket the US Embassy and not the Ethiopian Embassy is because they believe that only the US government can influence Ethiopian government.Avraham, who declined to state his last name, has a sister and three nephews in Ethiopia. “We are here to influence the US government to stop the oppression in Ethiopia. People are dying over nothing,” he said, “I worry about my family there all the time.”