181 Ethiopian immigrants land in Israel as aliyah from African nation restarts

Just over 180 Ethiopian immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday afternoon, some after waiting decades to arrive in Israel and reunite with family members.

Almost everyone on board Wednesday’s flight will be reuniting with family members, many of whom they haven’t seen in years. Zemenu Atalele will finally get to see his mother, who moved to Israel 10 years ago. He is traveling with his wife, Yeshihareg, and their three young children, ages 8, 3 and just over a year old — who have never met their grandmother.

Around 30 Jewish Agency employees — most of whom are themselves former Ethiopian immigrants to Israel — had been in Ethiopia for several weeks preparing the families for their impending move.