Cabinet to Discuss Formation of a Ministerial Committee to Advance the
Integration of Israelis of Ethiopian Descent into Israeli Society
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

The Cabinet will, tomorrow (Tuesday, 19 May 2015), discussing the formation
of a ministerial committee to advance the integration of Israeli citizens of
Ethiopian descent into Israeli society, to be chaired by Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. The committee's responsibilities will include dealing
with and advancing the affairs of Israelis of Ethiopian descent vis-à-vis
employment, social welfare, education and health.

Prime Minister Netanyahu made the following remarks earlier this week in his
address at the Memorial Ceremony for Ethiopian Jews who Perished During
Their Journey to Israel:

"Roughly two weeks ago, I met with several of you. It was a moving meeting,
and if I may say so, one that shook me to my core.

I heard complaints of racism, discrimination, deprivation, excessive
force.You told me of your fear to walk in the streets because of the color
of your skin. I cannot accept this, not in our country, not in the Jewish
state.

This week, I will establish a special ministerial committee, under my
leadership, to address all these issues and many others.

We will present a comprehensive plan to the government to assist you along
the way. But beyond the program, and other programs and resources and
projects, there is one clear principle – there is no room for racism and
discrimination in our society. None.

We will fight with all our strength against these unacceptable practices. We
will simply uproot them from our lives. We will turn them into something
looked down upon, something contemptible.

There are societies which succeeded in rising above this morass. We brought
human dignity to civilization – we, the Jews – and we will ensure that human
dignity will find expression in our one and only state."