Activists Demand Shin Bet Involvement in Missing Ethiopian Teen's Case

Dozens of activists, family members, and members of Zionist youth movements marched to the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on Monday, demanding the Shin Bet security agency's involvement in the investigation into the disappearance of Haymanot Kassaw and an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Haymanot's grandmother, Mantebush, expressed her frustration, stating, "Our children are first in the army, they are killed, they are injured for the army, it wants us, for elections it looks for us, but to look for my daughter, it does not." She demanded Netanyahu sign an order for the Shin Bet to take responsibility and return the girl.

Earlier on Monday, the Knesset Committee on Immigration and Absorption held its 32nd follow-up discussion on Haymanot's disappearance. MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, who attended a closed session, expressed hope, stating, "The first and most urgent task is to find Haymanot and bring those responsible for her disappearance to justice. We must do everything to prevent the next case."

Police representative, Senior Inspector Sarit Elisha El Ami, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing but there has been no breakthrough. "We are working continuously on the investigation, doing everything and using all the resources at our disposal to achieve results. Unfortunately, we have no breakthrough. The police are determined to bring results and answers to the family. We do not want to lose hope, but at the moment we have no news to report," she said, adding that they are examining further searches in the Safed area. Committee Chairman MK Gilad Kariv also expressed optimism from the closed-door discussions, suggesting that the question of which agency leads the investigation is less important than ensuring the Shin Bet remains involved.

Haymanot's mother, Banechayahu Kassaw, appealed to the Prime Minister, recalling his promise eight months prior to use all necessary means. She questioned whether skin color or economic status influences the level of involvement, citing successful operations by the Mossad and Shin Bet to locate other missing individuals. Moshe Pines, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, pledged assistance to the family, including help with relocating to Jerusalem. The ministry noted that a campaign to raise awareness of Haymanot's disappearance reached approximately 10 million people and offered to renew it if beneficial to the investigation.

The Kassaw family has been residing in a protest tent outside the government compound in Jerusalem for the past month. After initial refusal by the Jerusalem Municipality, the family was permitted to re-establish a protest area for two weeks following intervention by MK Tamano-Shata and a petition by the Association for Civil Rights.