Greeting Rastafari Family and those who research Emperor Haile Selassie I and Ethiopian Relations. In this time of great tribulation, we need to remember the King of Kings, and have a moral compass within that we can trust. This is a serious topic of Biblical proportions, where the ancient and modern meet. We will talk about the Emperor’s position and a little about the dynamics that brings us to this present time. Ethiopia’s relationship with Israel, as well as His proposed solutions and guidelines for the two state solution for Palestine and Israel.
Rather than showing the history of the countries relationship, let’s start with this as an intro: That the recent destruction of Gaza and the constant war crimes being committed by Israel and Hamas goes against Geneva Conventions and Rome Statutes, and The UN Charter, all of which the USA and Israel have ratified. The use of chemical weapons that are banned on dense populations by Israel are illegal under international law. All war crimes need to be investigated and parties held accountable on all sides. We as the Rastafari community at large, mourn the lives of all innocent lives lost, from all religions, nations and races equally. We demand, that food, water and fuel be given immediately to Palestine, so that those who are starving, dehydrated, and sick may be tended. A immediate ceasefire as demanded by the 2/3 of the UN General Assembly in their recent resolution is the moral cry from the world, in order that loss of life and war crimes cease, we support this call on behalf of international morality. We also agree the need for the release of all innocent people being held without charge or considered hostages on both sides. The murder of over 9000 Palestinian civilians, the majority being women and children is an assault on all of humanity. We also demand justice for the journalists and over 65 UN workers who have been killed by Israeli bombs.
Most of the information has been gathered in the book ” Alliance and Alienation, Ethiopia and Israel in the days of Haile Selassie by Haggai Erlich and cross checked by InI. I will say that though the information is incredibly telling it also has hints of the same anti- Arab sentiments that have contaminated the entire world view. With that said, the history of the creation of borders by the British after World War 1 and the diverse reactions and forms of Islam that were in set regions, the distinction of those who were considered moderate Muslims and those that were considered fundamentalist were important on a global level. Islam has existed in the region in and surrounding Ethiopia since Islam’s inception, which Ethiopia is apart of. The very real attacks, threats and history of Muslim Christian relations in Ethiopia also have impacted the decisions made by Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa in regard to Islamic countries in the area. Like most of Africa, and the so called Middle East, had been colonized, recently became independent and in the latter 20th century were ripe for proxy wars due to the need for financial assistance from outside nations. The dynamics of being in such a region, and situation, His Imperial Majesty being a Christian King surrounded by Islamic countries made the importance of being aligned and non aligned, trying out create or explore relationships, public and private that would take books to cover.
To get to the point that most want to know when it comes to the disintegration of relations between Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Israeli Government, where Ethiopia stood in the Israeli- Palestine conflict has to be seen as the decision of the Emperor. Ones may speculate on how much coercion was present severing of all ties with Israel, however the decisions presented by Ethiopia, are very conscious of the long term impacts and history’s judgment regarding the importance of long term peace.
In 1967 Ethiopia was a non permeant United Nations Security Council, and it a rare moment, all permeant and non permeant members agreed to UN Resolution 242, after the 6 six day war and the illegal expansion of Israeli territory. Internationally the borders were agreed on, in which Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Syria were to be protected from illegal occupation. In this the set borders of Palestine was outlined and that Jerusalem be shared, with East Jerusalem be the capital of Palestine. His Imperial Majesty thought it best that Jerusalem be an international city, in which the world saw it as a religious capital for all. This idea was not entertained, nor did Egypt’s President Nassar accept the Emperor’s Help in developing a peace plan. We have many ideologies that conflict or are simply are not realistic that were coming into play, a few of them is the Zionist desire to expel Palestinians from their land, not thinking that there should be any repercussions, the other is a Pan Arab movement, that was not in alignment with African Unity being it based on Islamic unity rather than a Continental Unity. Another being by those in Ethiopia, that Israel as a people and that Israel as a government was the same, and that Ethiopia should always defend Israel because of Biblical and historical links, not realizing that the Jews occupying were foreigners to the region.
Israel refused to adhere to the UNSC Resolution 242, October 25, 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, further resolutions were passed and ignored, 338 and 339 leading to resolution 340 which also passes 14 to 0. It goes as:
In UNSCR 340, the Council demanded that the belligerent parties cease fire immediately and completely, and return to the positions occupied by them at 1650 GMT on 22 October 1973.
The Council also
- Requested the Secretary-General to increase the number of United Nations military observers on both sides of the cease-fire lines.
- Set up a United Nations Emergency Force to be composed of personnel drawn from UN member states except the permanent members of the Security Council.
- Requested the Secretary-General to report back within 24 hours on these two provisions.
- Requested the Secretary-General report back on a continuing basis on the implementation of this resolution, as well as 338 and 339, and requested all member states to co-operate fully in the implementation of these resolutions.
The resolution was adopted with 14 votes to none. The People’s Republic of China did not vote or formally abstain.
Ethiopia also saw along with the world community that accountability was needed for Israel, though it had been assisting Ethiopia and its military. In agreement with AU it was stated that Africa needed to sever ties with Israel in order to push for the human rights of Palestine and their right to their land. Ethiopia severed ties Oct. 25 1973 on Oct. 29th all Israeli’s were asked to leave Ethiopia, and the Embassy was shut down.
At the time of His Imperial Majesties disappearance, when it came to the issue of Palestine, That there should be UN troops on the ground, and that there should be implementation of the 1967 borders agreed in UN Resolution 242. This is still the position of most of the world when they speak of a two state solution based on the 1967 borders. In recent years both the US and Israel have become more conservative and hawkish, and will not allow human rights investigations, nor peacekeepers. It is written “Alliance and Alienation” that Emperor Haile Selassie I suggested that the most Orthodox and Religious Leaders of both sides, Muslims, Jews with Christians work together, being that the root of many of the beliefs are rooted in religious matters and the rhetoric spoken by the Mosques, Temples and Churches more than influential than political leaders. These ideas still hold legitimacy in the eyes of both religious and non religious people.
There is a rich and long history that is very important to understand the climate of the times, and how Ethiopia politically moved and dealt with different decades and events. In order that we share simple facts, the context, pretext is up to the reader to investigate, rather than speculate. It is a fact, that no embassy from Ethiopia during His Imperial Majesties Reign was ever set up in Israel, nor was there ever a state visit for Israel. That secret relations were kept between The King of Kings with Israel, and that Israeli government worked with those both who wanted to see His Majesty succeed and those who did not. Israel was working with the DERG Murderous Communist Government and were in Ethiopia again arming the military in 1975 and trying to prevent Muslim Eritrean Independence.
The relationship between Ethiopia and the State of Israel after 1948 is complex and layered, some of which will take ones back hundreds of years before the state of Israel and to the presence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem. There are two Churches in Jerusalem that Ethiopians have run for years, Debre Genet was founded by the Emperor Yohannes IV (r. 1872 – 1889). Yohannes, it is said, funded the venture with war booty from his battles with the Ottomans and Deir Sultan, the other is in the Old City, located on the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
The relationship to King Solomon and Queen Makeda Candice of Ethiopia, thru to the life and times of Christ, is recorded in the Scriptures where ”Then the angel of the Lord said to Philip: Start out and go south to the road that leads down from Jerusalem to Gaza. So he set out and was on his way when he caught sight of an Ethiopian. This man was a eunuch, a high official of the Kandake Queen of Ethiopia in charge of all her treasure.” (Acts, 8:26-27)
In the book of Amos, chapter 9 we see that Ethiopia is the elder or Father of Israel and that the Ethiopias are known to be loved by the God of Abraham:” Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?”(KJV)
Ethiopia’s presence in Jerusalem and Judaism, is at the heart of the faith, which is why Ethiopia is also known as Beta-Israel, and well as the Tribe of Judah. The Ethiopian presence from Genesis to Moses to King David and King Solomon, on to Christ is integral in the identity of the people and country of Ethiopia. Ethiopia considers it’s King, an Emperor and King of Israel, anointed and divinely touched by God. The continues to present, in which the customs of both Judaism and Christianity are ancient and public. With this in mind, that until 1948, Beta Israel, and the King of Israel came from Ethiopia alone, in which Emperor Haile Selassie I sat on the “Throne of Zion.” Being that a new nation of people calling themselves Israel, didn’t consider Emperor Haile Selassie I, their King, and were aligned with British and other European nations who had colonial exploits of the time. Emperor Haile Selassie I, just after regaining His Country from the Italians, in 1941 was also working with the British and allied forces, and saw that He couldn’t trust the British due to the colonial mindstate that was still in their agenda. Likewise, a lack of trust was apparent for the state of Israel, and yet relationships with both the British, USA and Israel were secretly and publicly were explored.
Thank you for reading, and I hope it was more than insightful. I hope that we realize like in 1973 the World needs to take global action in this time. We need to find permeant solutions that do not support genocide, war crimes, forced displacement, or further escalations. Rather than being pulled into religious polarities, let us look at the topic of human rights, and the evil of collective punishment and the dangers the world faces if they do not tackle injustice. The problems that face the Middle East can not be solved with violence, we encourage all efforts internationally to find a peaceful end through compromise and mediation. Our Prayers are with the Whole World, That the naked be clothed, the hungry be fed, the sick be nourished, the infants cared for and the elders protected, that the ignorant be instructed, O Jah, Let the words of I mouth and the meditations of I heart be acceptable in Jah Sight. Emperor Haile Selassie I in His Christ, Rastafari.