•On This Day: Remembering Operation Solomon’s Unprecedented Humanitarian Mission
On May 24–25, 1991, in the span of just 36 hours, the State of Israel carried out one of the most ambitious and daring rescue missions in modern history—Operation Solomon.
This top-secret, record-breaking airlift saved 14,325 Ethiopian Jews from war-torn Ethiopia and brought them to safety in Israel.
To this day, Operation Solomon remains a powerful symbol of national unity, humanitarian triumph, and unwavering commitment to the Jewish diaspora.
The Urgent Backdrop: Ethiopia on the Brink
By the early 1990s, Ethiopia was teetering on collapse. A protracted civil war, political instability, and a collapsing regime under dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam had plunged the nation into chaos.
As rebel forces closed in on the capital, Addis Ababa, concerns intensified over the safety of the country’s Jewish community—known as Beta Israel or the Falashas—a community with roots believed to stretch back millennia, possibly to the union of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
This ancient Jewish population had long suffered religious persecution, isolation, and discrimination.
In the face of growing violence and uncertainty, the urgency to evacuate them became undeniable. For Israel, which sees itself as a refuge for Jews worldwide, the risk of inaction was too high.
Laying the Groundwork: Diplomatic and Strategic Mastery
Israel had already laid the foundation for such an operation. In 1989, after 16 years of severed diplomatic ties, Israel reestablished relations with Ethiopia, allowing for a slow trickle of Jewish emigration.
However, as the Mengistu regime began to falter in May 1991, Israel, fearing the collapse of this fragile channel, negotiated a bold and secret deal.
With the help of American diplomatic support and approximately $35 million in payments—much of it raised by the American Jewish community—the Ethiopian government agreed to allow the immediate departure of its Jewish population.
What followed was a logistical feat unlike any other.
The Operation: An Airlift of Biblical Proportions
Over the course of 35 continuous flights, a combination of El Al commercial airliners, Israeli Air Force cargo planes, and stripped-down Boeing 747s airlifted more than 14,300 people from Addis Ababa to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
One Boeing 747 set a Guinness World Record by carrying over 1,000 passengers—some even seated on the floor. To make room, aircraft were stripped of non-essential fittings, and many flew back-to-back flights.
Despite the grueling pace, the entire operation was executed without a single fatality. In fact, eight babies were born during the mission, including two mid-flight.
The mission was executed under tight secrecy, with IDF soldiers in civilian clothes escorting the evacuees. Many of the passengers—especially children—recall being awakened in the dead of night, told to pack a few belongings, and hurried onto buses with no understanding of what lay ahead. For many, this was their first time on a plane, and their first step into a long-awaited homeland.
Heroes Behind the Scenes
The operation brought together a remarkable coalition of organizations and individuals: the Israel Defense Forces, Mossad, Jewish Agency, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Israeli Foreign Ministry, and countless volunteers from Israel and the diaspora.
One of the notable figures was Lt. Col. Arieh Oz, a Holocaust survivor and former pilot in the Israeli Air Force.
He flew the first Boeing 747 into Addis Ababa during Operation Solomon, personally airlifting over 1,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
His story embodies the continuity of Jewish survival—from the horrors of Europe to the promise of Israel.
A Legacy of Rescue: Operation Moses and Operation Joshua
Operation Solomon wasn’t the first of its kind. It followed two earlier missions:
- Operation Moses (1984–1985), which secretly evacuated 8,000 Ethiopian Jews via Sudan but was cut short after media leaks.
- Operation Joshua (1985), a U.S.-assisted follow-up that brought out another 500 individuals.
However, Operation Solomon remains the largest, fastest, and most organized mass rescue of Ethiopian Jews—completed in just 36 hours.
A Testament to Zionism and Jewish Solidarity
“Operation Solomon truly represents what Zionism is. It demonstrates the purpose for the State of Israel: to provide a home and shelter for Jews around the world who have suffered and were persecuted merely for bearing the Jewish religion,” reflected Maj. Gen. Avihu Ben-Nun, then commander of the Israeli Air Force.
Former Jewish Agency emissary Avi Mizrahi, who oversaw airport logistics during the mission, emphasized the breadth of the collaboration: “Thousands of people participated… from the Jewish Agency, JDC, the IDF, Mossad, the American Association for Ethiopian Jews, and Jewish communities across the globe.”
Enduring Impact and Continuing Challenges
Today, members of the Beta Israel community are an integral part of Israeli society.
Their contributions to culture, the military, the arts, and public service have been significant. Still, integration has not been without its challenges, with issues of discrimination and social inequality persisting.
Nevertheless, the community continues to grow and thrive, and Israel has conducted additional missions in the years since, including Operation Dove’s Wings (2012) and others aimed at reuniting families left behind.
A Moral Milestone
Operation Solomon remains a historic milestone in humanitarian rescue, recognized globally for its scale, speed, and success. As former U.S. National Security Advisor Colin Powell once remarked:
“Israel is the first country in the history of the world to bring humans from Africa not to enslave them, but to set them free.”
Remembering with Purpose
Each year on May 24–25, Israel and Jewish communities around the world pause to remember the courage, sacrifice, and unity that made Operation Solomon possible.
It was not just a mission of planes and passports—it was a profound act of national purpose and collective responsibility. It demonstrated what is possible when logistics, diplomacy, and compassion align in service of a just cause.
Operation Solomon stands as an enduring legacy of the Jewish promise: that no Jew will ever be left behind.
Share This Post