Addis Ababa - 28 February 2018

1. Various of Ethiopian Jews praying in a synagogue in Addis Ababa

2. Close of Israeli flags

3. Various of people praying

4. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Melese Sidisto, leader of Ethiopian Jewish Community:

"Please, we are asking this in the name of Israel's God, we are asking to be off the hook now. Please we have had enough. We have been like this for the last 20 years. We have had enough (crying)."

5. Various of people crying in the synagogue

6. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Kasanesh Addisu, member of Jewish Community:

"Our communities are not just the ones here. Our families are not just those here. There are a lot who fled here. If you go to their homes, there are some who are starving. Most are in a difficult situation. And some are sick in bed. Don't just look at us who stand before you healthy. Please rescue us (crying)."

7. Addisu crying

8. Various of people holding pictures of relatives that have been repatriated to Israel in the past

9. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Chekol Taglo Alemayehu, member of Ethiopian Jewish Community:

"My father was taken to Israel 20 years ago. And two years later his five children including me were contacted to begin the process of going to Israel. We filled some forms. Our pictures were taken. And we finished the process and we were told to get ready for travel. And we did. When it was time, we packed and left for the airport. But at the airport we were told we cannot go and we were told to try again soon. We have been in misery ever since."

10. Various of prayers

11. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Melese Sidisto, leader of Ethiopian Jewish Community:

"Why are we being shy about our wish to travel to Israel? And if our request is not accepted soon, we are going to hold a three-day hunger strike. Even if people die because of this, we are determined and ready to hold the strike."

12. Various of prayer

LEAD IN:

Ethiopian Jews have been protesting an Israeli decision to cut funding to help them immigrate.

The Jews of Ethiopia (Falashas) claim that many of them are unable to reunite with family members who already immigrated to Israel years ago.

STORY-LINE:

Deep in prayer but not at peace.

These Ethiopian Jews are protesting within the confines of this synagogue in Addis Ababa.

Hundreds gathered to express concern that Israel's proposed budget removes the funding to help them immigrate to reunite with relatives.

Most of the nearly 8,000 Ethiopian Jews in the east African nation are said to have family members already in Israel.

Some told The Associated Press they have been separated for more than a decade.

"Please, we are asking this in the name of Israel's God, we are asking to be off the hook now," begs Melese Sidisto, leader of the Ethiopian Jewish Community

"Please we have had enough. We have been like this for the last 20 years. We have had enough," he says, before breaking down.

Others in the congregation are visibly upset as the issue is discussed.

One worshipper, Kasanesh Addisu, says there are far more people in the community that just those here today.

"If you go to their homes, there are some who are starving. Most are in a difficult situation. And some are sick in bed. Don't just look at us who stand before you healthy. Please rescue us."

Dozens of people hold up pictures of their loved ones who have already moved to Israel.

Activists say Israel's government in 2015 pledged to bring the remaining Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

In 1991 with Ethiopia in civil war, Israel carried out the dramatic Operation Solomon, successfully airlifting out some 14,500 Ethiopian Jews in less than two days.

For Chekol Taglo Alemayehu, it has been 20 years since he saw his father.

"My father was taken to Israel 20 years ago. And two years later his five children including me were contacted to begin the process of going to Israel. We filled some forms. Our pictures were taken. And we finished the process and we were told to get ready for travel. And we did. When it was time, we packed and left for the airport. But at the airport we were told we cannot go and we were told to try again soon. We have been in misery ever since."

In a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Ethiopian Jews in Addis Ababa said they want to immediately and without any preconditions go to Israel and join family members.

Tired after years of trying, this community are threatening more serious action.

"If our request is not accepted soon, we are going to hold a three-day hunger strike. Even if people die because of this, we are determined and ready to hold the strike."