Story perspectives

Protests Erupt Over Ethiopian Immigration Amid Tigray Violence

2/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Demonstrators outside the Knesset on February 1, 2026, pressed to admit about 10,000 Ethiopian relatives of Israelis due to Tigray violence.
Protesters criticized the government for halting immigration and funding.
Pnina Tamano-Shata, former immigration minister, said many waiting to immigrate had already been approved.
Gilad Kariv, Labor MK, accused discriminatory immigration policies, contrasting Ethiopian Jews with other immigrant groups.
The government plans to assess eligible individuals for immigration.

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Story summary

Demonstrators outside the Knesset on February 1, 2026, pressed to admit about 10,000 Ethiopian relatives of Israelis due to Tigray violence.
Protesters criticized the government for halting immigration and funding.
Pnina Tamano-Shata, former immigration minister, said many waiting to immigrate had already been approved.
Gilad Kariv, Labor MK, accused discriminatory immigration policies, contrasting Ethiopian Jews with other immigrant groups.
The government plans to assess eligible individuals for immigration.