“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.” – Colin Powell, Former United States National Security Advisor
In May of 1991, Ethiopia was coming to the end of its long civil war and its government was about to be overthrown. Concerns arose in Israel, for the Jewish community of Ethiopian Jews, known as Beta Israel, as their lives and well-being were to be at stake. Israel cut a deal with the stumbling regime to airlift thousands of Jews out of the country. Israel was given less than two days to carry out what it named Operation Solomon. The operation was named after King Solomon, whom according to the bible met with the Queen of Sheba – Ethiopia at the time.
Between May 24-25th, in just 36 hours, the Israelis rescued 14,325 Ethiopian Jews and flew them to Israel. Operation Solomon is yet another testament that Israel will never abandon its people, no matter where they are in the world.
Source: Government Press Office