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Israel’s Jewish Ethiopian population reached 177,600 in 2024

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The Jewish population of Ethiopian origin in Israel reached approximately 177,600 in 2024, reflecting ongoing immigration waves and demographic changes. This marks a significant increase from past figures, with estimates showing around 171,600 residents of Ethiopian descent at the end of 2023, and about 168,800 in 2022.​ Key Highlights of the 2024 Data The population of Ethiopian Jews in Israel has continued to grow, with recent efforts to facilitate immigration, including plans approved in 2025 to bring an additional 2,000 Ethiopian Jews.​ As of September 2025, Israel's overall population was over 10 million, with the Jewish population comprising about 7.76 million, including the Ethiopian Jewish community.​ Immigration efforts have included evacuations from Ethiopia, with thousands arriving in recent years through operations such as Operation Tzur Yisrael and subsequent initiatives to bring more Ethiopian Jews to Israel, although many remain in camps and awaiting immigr...
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Tigest Girma: 'I was like – Hey, do you want black vampires? And they were like – Yeah, we want'

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Docklands critics have long called Melbourne’s port turned waterside suburb soulless. But for Tigest Girma it’s where her seductive ideas about vampires, university drama and Ethiopian mythology percolate. When characters for Girma’s bestselling fantasy books aren’t “doing what I want them to do” she comes down to the water for a break and imagines the scene from their perspective. “The calming water can spark ideas for me sometimes when I’m really stuck,” she says as we begin our late-afternoon stroll. continue reading...
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This Ethiopian woman was tortured by her government. The US is sending her home anyway

The Case : An Ethiopian woman named "Abeba" (pseudonym) fled Ethiopia after witnessing an extrajudicial killing by the military and subsequently being imprisoned and tortured for over a week. She traveled through Mexico and crossed the Rio Grande into Texas seeking asylum. The Legal Context : President Trump's January 20, 2025 executive order suspended asylum rights at the border and severely restricted protections under the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT). The order eliminated key rights for CAT applicants, including the right to have lawyers present during interviews and the ability to appeal denials. What Happened : Abeba underwent a phone screening while detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center. During the two-hour interview, she was ill from medication, the interpreter dropped out twice, and she was only asked yes/no questions. Despite officials finding her torture claims credible, they determined she didn't meet the standard for protection and denied her cas...
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Sosena Solomon Brings The Diaspora’s Hidden Landmarks To Life At The Met

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Sosena Solomon Brings The Diaspora’s Hidden Landmarks To Life At The Met : New Yorkers can visit secluded African landmarks without leaving Manhattan, thanks to Sosena Solomon. The celebrated Ethiopian -American film director created twelve >Alisa LaGamma, and the Senior Regional Director, Africa for the World Monuments Fund Steven Battle. The process was refreshing. “We were so in sync. It just felt so destined,” she says “We were all aligned in our vision for Africa and African storytelling and cultural heritage and preservation work.” She knew she was uniquely qualified to take on the ambitious project as a director and educator. They did, too. “All my projects have really prepared me for this moment,” says Solomon, who has been documenting nuance for years. She directed Dreaming of Jerusalem (2021) and Living While American (2022.)  “It’s been an incredibly personal journey that’s been rooted in memory preservation and reverence, for me, and just to have it live at t...
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Kanessa Muluneh is building a Web3 game for Africans

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Kanessa Muluneh is building a Web3 game for Africans - TechCabal : From Ethiopia to the Netherlands. Born in Dire Dawa, in eastern Ethiopia , Muluneh was aged three when her parents left the civil-war-ridden country ...
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SOST, meaning "three" in Amharic, is a new cultural hub located in Little Ethiopia, Washington D.C.

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Opened by siblings Siem, Izzy, and Mariam Abebe, SOST aims to connect African Americans with the African diaspora. The venue features three distinct yet cohesive floors, designed to serve as a community pillar. Mariam Abebe emphasizes honoring Black jazz musicians from D.C., including Duke Ellington, through the space's design and programming. SOST includes a vinyl bar, specialty coffee by day, and coffee-based cocktails and wines from South Africa and Black-owned U.S. vineyards by night. The ground floor features a retail space with curated books and records, while the second floor offers dining and a gallery for Black artists, currently showcasing Charles Philippe Jean-Pierre's work. The menu, created by Kristin Holmes, combines global flavors influenced by D.C. and the African diaspora, including dishes like harissa creamy salmon and chicken with Berbere seasoning from Ethiopia. The historic building previously housed the Ethiopian Community Center and underwent significant ...
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Ugandan, Two Ethiopian Nationals Killed by IDF Fire After Crossing Into Israel From Jordan - Haaretz

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Israeli troops killed a Ugandan citizen and two Ethiopian citizens who crossed into Israel from Jordan, while arresting and returning five others to Jordan. The individuals were believed to be economic migrants, not asylum seekers, and their deaths are the first of this kind on the eastern border in recent years without a security context. The IDF reported that the individuals approached forces threateningly, but sources within the army indicated that they were hit despite being some distance away, after officers ordered warning shots. Continue Reading...
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