On Dec. 3, 316 Jews from Ethiopia arrived at Ben Gurion Airport as part of Operation Rock of Israel (Tzur Israel). One hundred more immigrants are set to arrive Dec. 4. In all, the government is committed to bringing 2,000 community members to Israel, after many years of waiting in transition camps in Addis Ababa and Gondar in Ethiopia.

First to step out of the aircraft was a religious leader of the community, blowing a ram’s horn, as in the Jewish tradition in times of redemption. Many of the immigrants waved Israeli flags. Some of the passengers kissed the ground upon arrival, also a tradition when first reaching the Holy Land.

The new arrivals were greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Chairman of the Jewish Agency Isaac Herzog and other senior government officials. For many, these festive sights were reminiscent of the big waves of Ethiopian immigrants brought to Israel in the 1980s and 1990s.

"I can't remember being so moved by such a distilled sight of Zionism that demonstrates all our qualities. The sight of olim [immigrants] getting off the plane carrying baskets as I remember from my childhood — touching the ground of the Land of Israel, a mother kissing the ground — this is the essence of the Jewish and Zionist story and that is why, our brothers and sisters, we are excited to welcome you here. Welcome to the State of Israel. … The Ethiopian community is returning to the motherland, step by step," said Netanyahu. He later tweeted, "Brothers and sisters of ours, immigrants from Ethiopia, we are so moved to welcome you here. Welcome to Israel!"