The integration process of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel has been especially difficult, given the complexity of their interaction with the host society. A number of factors are at the root of these challenges, even before we bring up the color of their skin and the racism it feeds or inspires. First of all, Israelis of Ethiopian descent, first and second generations are a relatively small group (around 150,000 people, 1.7% of the entire Israeli population). Hence their ability to exert political pressure via the institutionalized channels, mainly political parties and on Election Day is quite limited.

The multiyear Tnufa (“momentum”) plan drawn up by IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi is meant to provide a response to changes affecting the IDF – those underway and those that are expected in the next five years – and to improve operational effectiveness. However, recently the situation assessment has been flooded with factors related to economic and political conditions that may delay and limit the plan’s launch.

The Letters and Papers of Chaim Weizmann are an enormously valuable but under-utilized source of modern Zionist History. The twenty-three-volume series offers an intimate perspective into the life of Chaim Weizmann, as he became one of half a dozen key leaders in the 19th and 20th century Zionist quest to establish a Jewish state. Each of the published volumes of The Weizmann Letters, with a couple of exceptions, covers a period of two to four years. Each volume is summarized by a renowned scholar. With permission from the Weizmann Archives, we are publishing those introductions. We will be publishing two of these volume summaries per week through September 2019. The Center for Israel Education extends its deep appreciation and thanks to the Weizmann Archives in Rehovot, Israel for permission to reprint these introductions. All credit for assembling the bibliographic information and the lengthy introductions rests with the individual scholar who edited each volume.