12
Friday, March 30, 1984
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Canadians hit Falasha reports
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Jerusalem (JTA) — A
Canadian B'nai B'rith dele-
gation which just returned
from a fact finding mission
to Ethiopia's Gondar Prov-
ince, including visits to
three Falasha villages, has
concluded that the Jews in
Ethiopia "do not live worse"
than other sectors of the
general population.
The delegation, which in-
cluded Canadian B'nai
B'rith President Don Jubas
and Executive Vice
President Frank Dimant,
also issued a harsh rebuttal
of the "biased and tainted"
reporting of other Falasha
activist groups in North
America, notably the Cana-
dian Association for Ethio-
pian Jewry (CAEJ), and the
American Association for
Ethiopian Jewry (AAEJ).
They dismissed as a
"diatribe against Israel" a
controversial film on the
Falashas recently screened
to Knesset members and
journalists. The film, The
Falashas, was made some
18 months ago by a former
Israeli now living in
Canada, Simcha Jacobovici.
It accuses the Israeli gov-
ernment of inaction and in-
effectiveness in rescuing
the Falashas and portrays
their plight in Ethiopia and
in refugee camps in
neighboring Sudan as des-
perate.
The film and the con-
troversy surrounding it
were widely reported in the
Canadian media. Jacobovici
claimed earlier this month
that the Israeli government
While saying "Israel is
was deliberately surpres- doing what can be done,"
sing his film and preventing Jubas acknowledged that it
its general release or show- is "very difficult logistically
ing on Israel Television.
to get them out" of Ethiopia.
The 'Canadian B'nai "Organizations that claim a
B'rith delegation went to lot of credit, like the CAEJ
Ethiopia with the active and AAEJ, and raise a lot of
encouragement of the Is- money for flashy brochures,
raeli government and Jubas are registering only minis-
said they did not hide this cule returns for their dol-
fact from the Ethiopian lars," Jubas said.
authorities. ,
"There is no question that
In the three villages the they get some (Falashas)
delegation visited — out; but even according to
Halecka, Ambober and the them their figures are tiny.
more remotely located Abu It would be better if they
Antonis — the delegation spent the money they raise
found "no specifically anti- on scholarships and other
Jewish legislation or dis- requirements for Ethiopian
crimination," Jubas said. Jews living in Israel," Jubas
"That is important in view added.
of the wrong information
The report by the Cana-
that is being fed to the dian B'nai B'rith delega-
media."
tion, and especially its
"One has to understand enthusiastic espousal by Is-
the special situation," he raeli officials, appears to be
added. "There are civil wars part of an ongoing effort by
going on and that means Israel to portray the Ethio-
military draft, not just for pian regime and its treat-
the Jews but for everybody.
ment of the Falashas in a
The Marxist government,
much more favorable light
moreover, functions on the than previously.
premise that no one wants
According to the Cana-
to leave. And indeed no one dian delegation, they
is allowed to leave . . ."
encountered Israeli
Jubas and other members businessmen in Ethiopia's
of the delegation said it was
capital, Addis Ababa. There
crucially important that are also a number of
other Jewish groups visit Ethiopia students taking
Falasha villages. They de- courses in Israel.
scribed the excitment and
It is understood that
enthusiasm their visit gen- 2,200 Falashas reached Is-
erated among the Falasha rael in 1983.
villagers — and their own
emotions at feeling a bond of
In thy face I see the map of
nationhood over a cultural honor, truth and loyalty.
gulf of centuries.
— Shakespeare
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