Ethiopians arrive in Israel

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By Jessica Elgot, January 19, 2010
Israel reopens Ethiopian immigration

Eighty-one immigrants from the Falash Mura community have touched down in Israel, the first ones to make aliyah since a controversial Israeli decision to ban further Ethopian immigration.

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The Falash Mura are Ethiopians who claim their Jewish ancestors were forced to convert to Christianity.
The Falash Mura are Ethiopians who claim their Jewish ancestors were forced to convert to Christianity. More than 600 are planned to arrive over the next few months, and up to 2,000 could be in Israel by the end of 2010.Israeli rabbis have ruled that they are of Jewish descent and the initial arrangement with the government allowed them to enter Israel on condition that they re-convert to Judaism, after which they receive citizenship.This is the first flight of the Falash Mura since the Israeli government decided to end Ethiopian immigration in August 2008, with another 63 due to arrive tomorrow. More than 8,000 Falash Mura are still in Ethiopia, many with relatives in Israel
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Last updated: 2:05pm, January 19 2010