Aleli Admasu, an unknown father of five from Rishon Lezion, surprised everyone by winning the 30th spot on the Likud Knesset candidates list in Monday’s primary, reserved for an immigrant.
“I didn’t believe the results myself. It was a great surprise for me, too, but I am very happy and glad that this is what Likud members and especially the members of the [Ethiopian] community wanted and chose,” he said Tuesday.
Admasu defeated candidates endorsed by party chairman Binyamin Netanyahu and Jewish Leadership faction leader Moshe Feiglin.
“The Ethiopian community in Israel has been loyal to the Likud for many years and this achievement is a big hug from the Ethiopian community,” Admasu said.
The first slot reserved for immigrants, No. 21, went to Netanyahu’s choice, current Kadima MK Ze’ev Elkin, who was born in Kharkov, Ukraine, in 1971 and made aliya at age 19.
Admasu said he did not have the financial resources to promote his candidacy.
It just came to my wandering attention that News Channel 8followed up on the Washington Post’s recent story about how the sagging economy and the city’s new meter system have affected cabbies and their ability to, essentially, subsidize the local Ethiopian restaurant community. At first I was sympathetic to this issue; but after supping at Etete, on a Monday night no less, when both levels of the joint were overflowing with customers, I’m thisclose to calling bullshit on the theory.
But I won’t. For one reason:
It’s based on only one visit, and that was to an elegant Ethiopian restaurant (read: accessible to Americans) just off the busy U Street NW drag. I suspect that the lesser lights among D.C.’s Ethiopian eateries are indeed suffering. But I wonder how much can be blamed on the new fare structure? Could there not be a glut of Ethiopian markets and restaurants? (Yes, there could be.) Could they have been suffering before the economy tanked and cabbies shifted to the new meter system? (Yes, they could have.)
What’s been your experience lately at Ethiopian haunts? Busy or not?
Hear Ethiopia Reads founder and finalist for the CNN Hero 2008 AwardYohannes Gebregeorgis speak about his work in New York and New Jersey, This week.
New Jersey
Place: Maplewood Memorial Library
51 Baker Street
Maplewood, NJ 07040
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Time: 7 – 8:30 PM
New York
Place: Cafe Addis
435 West 125 Street
New York, NY
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008
Time: 2:00 PM
Ethiopia Reads (www.ethiopiareads.org) is a grassroots non-profit geared toward bringing literacy and literacy related resources to Ethiopia. Since Ethiopia Reads opened Ethiopia’s first free children’s library in 2003, thousands of children have experienced the joy of reading for the first time. Ethiopia is considered one of the three poorest countries in the world with a life expectancy of only 41 years.
Yohannes Gebregeorgis, a native of Ethiopia and children’s literacy advocate, has been named a Top 10 Hero of the Year by CNN. Mr. Gebregeorgis was selected from more than 3,000 individuals nominated by viewers throughout the year. Finalists were selected by a Blue Ribbon panel of judges that includes Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jane Goodall and Deepak Chopra.
The London Chapter of Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front (EPPF) has been formed on Sunday, December 7, 2008, according to the Chapter’s press release. (Read more here)
EPPF is currently reorganizing itself around the world under the leadership of its International Committee. According to Ato Leul Qeskis, the Committee’s chairman, chapters will soon be formed and functional in several cities in Europe, the U.S., and Canada.
With the help of the International Committee, EPPF has recently acquired a new 4WD emergency vehicle that it uses to transport those who are injured in the field to hospitals. The payment for the vehicle is not fully paid yet, and the London Chapter and those that are being formed are expected to help raise the necessary funds for such purpose.
The EPPF-IC is also working on a plan to raise funds online from the Diaspora Ethiopians to provide humanitarian assistance to the families of fellow Ethiopians who are joining the resistance.
In Washington DC, a chapter organizing committee will hold its first meeting Sunday. The organizing committee can be reached at [email protected]
The Woyanne regime in Ethiopia is going to send Tewodros Kassahun (Teddy Afro) to the notorious Ziway prison camp that is located in a remote part of the country, a prison official told Awramba Times.
Ziway is a not just prison. It is a torture camp where sadistic Woyanne prison guards can do any thing they want with prisoners. On top of that, no one comes out of Ziway healthy because of extremely unsanitary conditions and malaria infestation. It is a hell on earth where the most hardened criminals are sent to die or be broken down.
Meanwhile, Ethiopians around the world are mobilizing to help free Teddy Afro. In Washington DC, Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans in the area are planning to block the Woyanne embassy any time between now and December 15. On Monday, December 15 there will be a protest rally in front of the Woyanne embassy starting at 10 AM.
