The immigrants were welcomed by the Minister of Aliyah and Absorption, President and CEO of the Fellowship, and Director General of the Jewish Agency.

“Operation Tzur Yisrael is in full swing,” said Pnina Tamano-Shata, Minister of Aliyah and Absorption. “Though the end of January, and in accordance with the government decision I approved last October, a plane carrying hundreds of Ethiopian immigrants will land in Israel almost every week, until the 2,000 people who have waited many years to arrive in Israel are reunited with their families. This is a great privilege for me, and is certainly a significant reason why it has been meaningful for me to serve in the government as Minister of Immigration and Absorption.”

Minister Tamano-Shata was referring to Government Resolution 429, which she introduced in October, and provides a framework to bring 2,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel by the end of the year. Today’s flight, the second to arrive under this program, brought 219 immigrants, including136 adults, 70 children, and13 babies – three under a month old. 

"The aliyah for those who are waiting to leave Ethiopia as part of Operation Tzur Yisrael is continuing, as I promised,” she added.  “The prolonged struggle I led in recent months is bearing fruit, and at this hour, hundreds of additional immigrants are arriving in Israel who will be privileged to embrace their families under the Israeli sky. The olim on this flight, as well as those from other flights, join 450 immigrants who arrived about two weeks ago, and more than 20,000 new olim who immigrated this year alone from all over the world to establish their home in Israel.”

Yael Eckstein, President and CEO of the Fellowship added: "The Fellowship was one of the first organizations to bring olim from Ethiopia as early as the 1980s, and for thirty years the Fellowship has been deeply involved in bringing Ethiopian Jews to Israel, in partnership with the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government.  We wish all the olim who arrive through Operation Tzur Yisrael a quick and successful absorption into Israel. We will make every effort to assist them and the entire wonderful Ethiopian community."

"This is the closing of a particularly moving circle,” said Amira Ahronoviz, Director General of the Jewish Agency.  “After years of not seeing one another, entire families are being reunited in Israel, thanks to Operation Tzur Yisrael.  Since the establishment of the State, the Jewish Agency has brought 95,000 immigrants from Ethiopia and helped absorb them into Israel.  I wish to thank our partners in Israel and around the world for their joint participation in Operation Tzur Yisrael, which will end the suffering of these olim after many long years of waiting."

The olim will go into quarantine, as is the procedure for all arriving immigrants from around the world. They will then be reunited with awaiting family members. The Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption and the Jewish Agency have prepared for their klita at absorption centers throughout the country once the quarantine period ends. The olim will receive support and guidance in all aspects of Israeli life, including learning Hebrew and preparation for employment and education.

Operation Tzur Yisrael made possible by the Jewish Agency, and its partners in the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod, with the support of donors and foundations from around the world.