“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 US National Security Advisor
In May of 1991, Ethiopia was coming to the end of its long civil war and the government was about to be overthrown. Israel was concerned for the Jewish community of Ethiopian Jews, known as Beta Israel, as their lives and well-being were at risk.
Israel arranged a deal to airlift thousands of Jews out of Africa and given less than two days to carry out 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.
Source: Government Press Office
