Beta Israel Spiritual Leaders Urge Netanyahu to Promote Almaz Zero on Likud List
The Beta Israel spiritual council has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to endorse Almaz Zero for the Likud Knesset list, citing her work against missionary cults and the need for strong community representation.
The "Zera Aharon Kehanat" Spiritual Council, which represents the spiritual leadership of the Beta Israel Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel, has appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promote the candidacy of Almaz Zero for the Likud party's Knesset list.
In a letter sent to Benjamin Netanyahu on August 16, council members expressed their "full and unconditional support" for Almaz Zero's candidacy. They highlighted her years of dedication to preserving the heritage of Beta Israel, strengthening the community, and her extensive public service on behalf of Ethiopian Israelis and Israeli society as a whole.
The council members also noted Almaz Zero's active struggle against cults and missionary activities within the community, arguing that the spiritual leadership requires "strong political and state backing" to address these challenges and safeguard their heritage.
Furthermore, the letter emphasized the council's desire to bolster the status of the "Liqa Kehanat" institution—the traditional spiritual leadership of the Beta Israel community. They asserted that over the years, there has been a "lack of determined and serious representation" for the community in the Knesset.
Expressing concern that the community might be left without adequate representation in the next Knesset within Likud, which they described as their "political home," the council urged Benjamin Netanyahu to personally endorse Almaz Zero and secure her a realistic spot on the Likud list.
