Ethiopians in Israel Protest Against Discrimination

Around 1,000 Ethiopians protested in Tel Aviv against police brutality and institutionalized discrimination, after mounting incidents against Ethiopians in Israel.

The rally started Monday afternoon with only several dozens of protesters and grew to hundreds of participants.

Protesters carried signs reading "No legitimacy for police violence" and chanted slogans demanding "social justice" and "the arrest of racist police."

"We will change the situation by taking responsibility over our lives," Yayo Avraham, who organized the protest, said during the rally, the Ha'aretz daily reported.

Ethiopian Jews in Israel have held several rallies against police brutality and racism in recent weeks.

Two weeks ago, a video of a young Ethiopian soldier being beaten by Israeli police officers outraged members of the Ethiopian Jewish community, sparking violent clashes with Israeli security forces.

Meanwhile, in response the most recent protests, cabinet officials from the Israeli Prime Minister's office will meet Tuesday to discuss the creation of of committee to advance the integration of citizens of Ethiopian descent into Israeli society.

More than 135,000 Ethiopian Jews live in Israel, having immigrated to the Jewish state in two waves in 1984 and 1991.