The Jewish Chronicle
On this day: Operation Solomon
May 24 1991: Dramatic airlift to Israel
May 19, 2011 15:27
ByJennifer Lipman, Jennifer Lipman
1 min read
May 24 1991: Dramatic airlift to Israel
May 19, 2011 15:27ByJennifer Lipman, Jennifer Lipman
In one of the most impressive rescue missions in history, Israel achieved what seemed impossible. In a day, as Jews around the world celebrated Shavuot, more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel, the country they had long hoped to see.
Operation Solomon, which followed the Operation Moses rescue of some 8,000 Ethiopian Jews in secret in the mid-1980s, was an ambitious and daring plan.
Work to bring the remainder of the Beta Israel community to Israel had largely ceased until 1991, when Ethiopia was at the brink of regional war. When the Ethiopian dictator Mengistu fled the country, Israel saw a time and opportunity to act.
It took a large sum of money, some 34 flights and more than 36 hours to complete, with planes emptied to make more space for passengers. Mmore people came off the planes than on, as up to seven babies were born during the flights.
