The Iron Swords War will be remembered as the War of Independence of the Ethiopians in Israel because this is the war in which the public was exposed even more to the great contribution of Ethiopians to Israel's security.
The proportion of Ethiopians in Israeli society is 1.8%. Over 170,000 Ethiopians live in Israel. But among the fallen, the number of Ethiopians stands at 26 out of 716 among the members of the security forces; that is, more than 3.5%, twice their proportion in the general population.
An expression of the great contribution of Ethiopians to the IDF could be seen at the ceremony for outstanding soldiers at the President's Residence on Independene Day. Out of the 120 outstanding soldiers, 10 are Ethiopians, or five times their proportion in the population.
Unofficial data from the army indicates that the number of Ethiopians in the commando units is many times more than their proportion in the general population. "Ethiopians fight there like lions. They are considered excellent soldiers in these units," said a source familiar with the matter. There are also a higher number of Ethiopians among the seriously wounded. "All in all, there are dozens of soldiers from the community who were wounded in the war," the source said.
Minister of Immigration and Absorption Ofir Sofer said the reality of the data hit home just this week.
"The terrible period of the long war brings us together with the strengths that exist in our wonderful nation," he told Ynet. "These things are especially true for the ex-Ethiopian community. Just this week on Memorial Day eve, I attended the funeral of the late Sergeant Yosef Dassa, his mother's only son, who was a fearless soldier and fell in battle in the Gaza Strip. Family members and friends eulogized Yosef, but it was hard to miss the eulogy of the two cousins, also soldiers in the IDF's best units, who are especially mature and full of Zionism, and who returned from the Gaza Strip for the funeral. And immediately after they returned to continue fighting. With this picture I entered the 76th Independence Day."
The chairman of the Jewish Agency, Major General (res.) Doron Almog, added that "the members of the Ethiopian community contributed and continue to contribute to the security of the country with a tremendous mobilization as soldiers in all field units. Out of loyalty and endless love for the State of Israel, many of them immigrated to Israel, mobilized, fought and some were even killed to protect our miracle like no other - the State of Israel, our only home on earth. They, among the rest of our determined warriors, give us hope and pride. The Ethiopian community has grown up soldiers and officers in senior positions in the IDF and the country as a whole theirs."