A first for the police: a member of the Ethiopian community leads the Ethiopian-Israeli desk

The appointment

For the first time, a member of the Ethiopian-Israeli community has been appointed to head the Ethiopian-Israeli desk in the Israel Police, operating under the Minority Relations Division. The appointee is Superintendent Eli Senbetu.

Why it's new

Until now, such roles have generally not been filled by members of the community itself. Senbetu's appointment marks a precedent — an officer of Ethiopian descent formally responsible for the relationship between the police and the community he comes from.

The wider context

The detail about Senbetu's appointment emerged as part of a broader ynet investigation into the relationship between the Israel Police and the Ethiopian-Israeli community. The appointment is presented as a step in improving relations between the two sides.

Source

• ynet, June 19, 2026