Tsega Melaku | |
|---|---|
צֶגָה מֶלָקוּ | |
.jpg) Tsega Melaku in 2023 | |
| Faction represented in theKnesset | |
| 2023– | Likud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1966-01-01)1 January 1966 (age 59) Gondar, Ethiopia |
| Political party | Likud |
| Other political affiliations | Kulanu (formerly) |
| Children | 2 |
Tsega Melaku (Hebrew:צֶגָה מֶלָקוּ; born 1968) is an Israeli author, journalist, community activist and politician currently serving as a member of theKnesset forLikud.[1] She is the former director ofKol Yisrael'sReshet Aleph ("Network A") radio station.[2] Melaku was disqualified from running inIsrael's 2015 election with theKulanu party for failing to complete her cooling-off period from government service, where it was believed she could become aMember of the Knesset.[3][4] She then became an MK in 2023 after running with Likud in theprevious year's election.[5][1]
Melaku was born inGondar,Ethiopia, and left her family in her native Ethiopia to emigrate toIsrael in 1984 at the age of 16. She recalls that her first defense of her rights in Israel was to insist on keeping her first name, instead of adopting the Hebraicized "Oshra", a name given to her on her arrival. "When we arrived in Jerusalem, we thought that the people would greet us with open arms", she remembers. "But when we got here, everyone looked at us suspiciously and did not believe that we were really Jewish. I was shocked too, because I had never seen white Jews before. It was ironic really because they thought that we were the ones who weren't Jewish."[6]
She attendedBar-Ilan University, where she earned a BA in Political Science and Sociology. Then, while studying atTouro College in Jerusalem for her MA in business, she was one of the first Keren Hanan Aynor scholarship recipients.[7]
In 2008, Melaku was appointed as director of the radio station Reshet Aleph, the first woman or Ethiopian immigrant to hold that role. She described her goals for the station as breaking down "the elitist approach to culture in this country and make sure that everyone can get his say, not just those who are fromTel Aviv. I want everyone to be able to hold the microphone and speak out about issues."[8] She is the manager and a presenter for anAmharic-language radio show on Israel Radio'sReka station. She has had a profound impact on the Ethiopian community, according to Len Lyons: "Under her direction, Amharic radio for the Ethiopian Israeli community has become an essential resource for education and social awareness.[9]
She is a community activist inIsrael's Ethiopian community. She was active in 1996 protests againstMagen David Adom's policy onEthiopian blood donations, following the publication of a news story which revealed that blood from Ethiopian Israelis was thrown away due to fears it would contain HIV.[10] Melaku works on behalf of several non-profit organizations that promote higher education for Ethiopian immigrants.
When he announced her candidacy for the Knesset,Moshe Kahlon, the Kulanu party leader, called her a woman of "fortitude and strong will".[4] Melaku articulated her reasons for embracing a political career, which include the corruption and racism she has witnessed: "Until today, everywhere I go, one question follows me: 'Miss, I need my house cleaned twice a week. Are you free for cleaning?'", Melaku said. "Today, I say, 'Yes, I'm free to clean up. Not houses, but corruption. I'm ready to clean up opacity, to clean up seeing others as inferior because of their name, their accent, their skin colour."[4]
After Melaku's candidacy was announced, JudgeSalim Joubran, Chairman of theCentral Elections Committee, ruled that as a former broadcaster for the Reshet Aleph radio, Melaku would be disqualified from candidacy in the upcoming elections because she did not complete the 100-day "cooling-off" period since leaving her broadcasting job.[3] The party disagreed with the decision, noting that her position as a manager was not a senior appointment and that the hiatus regulation should therefore not apply.[11]
In February 2016, theIsraeli Justice Ministry announced that the Israeli government had formed a new inter-ministerial task force to examine racism against Ethiopian-Israelis. The purpose is to create effective tools and methods to combat discrimination. There are three sub-teams within the task force, and Melaku will lead the one focused on raising public awareness of racism and enhancing the visibility of Ethiopian-Israeli Jews in the public sphere.[12]
In 2022, ahead of that year'slegislative election, Melaku was given the 37th spot onLikud's electoral list byBenjamin Netanyahu.[13] She was not elected to the Knesset as the party won 32 seats,[14] but subsequently entered the Knesset on 9 February 2023 as a replacement forOfir Akunis, who resigned under theNorwegian Law.[5][1]
Melaku is the author of the bookNot in Our School, which documents the racism she faced in her effort to have her children attend a better school.
Tsega Melaku on the Knesset website
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