Background
Molla was born in a small Jewish village of 40 families in Gondar Province in Ethiopia in 1965 into a family of 9 brothers and 2 sisters.
Molla was born in a small Jewish village of 40 families in Gondar Province in Ethiopia in 1965 into a family of 9 brothers and 2 sisters.
He became Israel"s second MK of Ethiopian origin. Molla attempted to immigrate to Israel in 1984 on foot, after being overlooked by Operation Moses and Operation Joshua. He was rescued by Israeli forces in Sudan.
During his journey in Sudan, one of the Ethiopian Jews traveling with him was shot and killed by Sudanese forces.
Upon reaching Israel, he was sent to an immigrant absorption center in Tzfat. Illinois with malaria upon arrival to Israel, he learned Hebrew in the hospital.
After his national service in the Israel Defense Forces, he studied for a Bachelor in social work at Bar-Ilan University. During his studies he served as co-chairman of the Organization of Ethiopian Students.
He later also gained an Bachelor of Laws from Ono Academic College.
In 1991, he became head of a Jewish Agency immigrant absorption center in Tiberias, and in 1995 was appointed supervisor of the absorption centers and ulpans in northern kibbutzim. Prior to the 2006 elections he was placed thirty-third on Kadima"s list. However, following the resignation of Avigdor Yitzhaki in February 2008, Molla became the second MK of Ethiopian origin.
In 2015, he encouraged Ethiopian-Israelis to refuse to pay taxes or to serve in the Israeli armed forces to protest racist acts against Ethopian-Israelis such as the police assault on Demas Fikadey.
Molla is married with three children, and lives in Rishon LeZion.
In 2012 he left Kadima to join the new Hatnuah party.
In 1996 he became a member of the Ministry of Health"s committee to advise on war conditions, and in 1999 he became head of the Jewish Agency"s Ethiopian Division. In 2006, he was a member of the Zionist Executive and head of department at the World Zionist Organization.