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Economy:<br />

World:<br />

Israel Immigration Solution — Forced Contraception!:<br />

Shocking Decline in Ethiopian Israeli Birthrate<br />

By<br />

Renee Ghert-Zand<br />

The birthrate among Ethiopians in Israel decreased by a dramatic<br />

50% in <strong>the</strong> last decade, and Israeli journalist Gal Gabai wanted to know<br />

why. She investigated <strong>the</strong> issue for “Vacuum,” her documentary series on<br />

Israeli Educational Television, and she discovered some things that left her<br />

very uncomfortable — and will surely leave o<strong>the</strong>rs equally so.<br />

Educational Television posted Gabai’s 25-minute report, titled<br />

“Where did <strong>the</strong> children disappear to?” on YouTube on December 6, two<br />

days before it was scheduled to air on channel 23.<br />

In her attempt to find out what <strong>the</strong> story was behind <strong>the</strong> shocking<br />

statistic, Gabai interviewed Ethiopian women immigrants and learned<br />

from <strong>the</strong>m that <strong>the</strong>y were given Depo-Provera (a contraceptive injection<br />

containing <strong>the</strong> hormone progestin administered once every three months)<br />

against <strong>the</strong>ir will. While some did not understand what <strong>the</strong> shots were for,<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs felt pressured into taking <strong>the</strong>m in response to alleged threats that<br />

<strong>the</strong>y would o<strong>the</strong>rwise not be allowed to immigrate to Israel. The shots<br />

began in <strong>the</strong> refugee camps in Gondar, continued in <strong>the</strong> transition camps in<br />

Addis Ababa, and continued on after <strong>the</strong>ir arrivals in Israel. According to<br />

<strong>the</strong> women’s testimony, this continuity appears to have been a coordinated<br />

effort between <strong>the</strong> medical staff at <strong>the</strong> clinics in Ethiopia run by <strong>the</strong> JDC<br />

and doctors in Israeli hospitals and clinics.<br />

The women, it seems, were never given proper family planning<br />

counseling outlining <strong>the</strong> various birth control methods, nor were <strong>the</strong>y<br />

given <strong>the</strong> chance to choose <strong>the</strong> one with which <strong>the</strong>y felt most comfortable.<br />

What were <strong>the</strong>y given? The clear message that life would be very hard for<br />

<strong>the</strong>m if <strong>the</strong>y were to have large families in Israel.

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