Operation Solomon

Operation Solomon was an Israeli military operation, with the aim to allow Ethiopian Jews to emigrate to Israel.

Starting position

With Operation Moses on 21 November 1984, January 5, 1985 came with an airlift about 8,000 Beta Israel to Israel. After becoming aware of the action they had to be canceled at the request of Arab States. The remaining in Ethiopia Beta Israel fled before the Ethiopian civil war in the capital Addis Ababa on the grounds of the Israeli embassy. In November 1990, an agreement between Ethiopia and Israel was reached that individuals were allowed to leave the country within the framework of family reunification to Israel. In return, Ethiopia received a payment of $ 40 million as economic aid.

At the same time, due to the weaknesses of the Mengistu regime began plans to bring all wishing to leave the Beta Israel with an airlift to Israel.

Beginning of 1991, have won great success against the Mengistu regime the rebels. When the rebels were only 50 kilometers from the capital, beginning of May, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam fled with his government out of the country. Israel took advantage of the power vacuum for its bailout.

Expiration

Within 35 hours, 25 minutes brought, starting on Thursday 23 until May 25, 1991 24 C -130 transport aircraft of the Israeli Air Force and 10 civilian aircraft of the Israeli civilian airline El Al 14,324 Falashas to Israel.

The aircraft used ended up in a cycle of up to three machines in 30 minutes. The refugees, who were on the site of the Israeli embassy were taken to the mattresses were just made with machines. Without refueling, they flew back to Israel. The 35 machines used took a total of 41 flights.

In addition, civilian aircraft were used that it lined up a hitherto unbroken world record: A Boeing 747-200 of El Al transported on a flight 1135, after two births during the flight even 1,137 passengers; designed the machine for 480 passengers.

Approx. 1,500 Falashas remained in the cut off from the capital Gondar region.