Operation Solomon was Israel’s rapid airlift of Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa to Israel on May 24–25, 1991. The Knesset records that 14,324 immigrants arrived within 36 hours, as Ethiopia’s Mengistu government was collapsing and rebel forces approached the capital. Israel’s negotiations and a large fleet of civilian and military aircraft made the evacuation possible.
Negotiations as the regime fell
The immediate challenge was securing safe passage from Addis Ababa while the government was losing control. Israel negotiated with Ethiopian authorities and arranged for people to gather at the Israeli embassy compound near the airport. The operation required coordination among the Israeli government, the Jewish Agency, and the airlines supplying aircraft. Specific accounts differ in aircraft totals and the duration measured, so the Knesset’s documented figure of 14,324 people in 36 hours provides a clear scale for the operation.
The Knesset’s memorial history states that 14,324 immigrants were brought to Israel within 36 hours. That rescue completed the separation created when the 1984–85 Sudan airlift ended, although later family immigration continued through separate government processes.
What the airlift changed
Operation Solomon brought nearly the remaining Beta Israel community in Ethiopia to Israel in a concentrated emergency evacuation. Its scale reflected the longstanding aim of Ethiopian Jews to reach Jerusalem and Israel’s commitment to bringing them to safety. It followed Operation Moses and the later Sudan rescue, which had moved thousands but left relatives behind.
Israel also commemorates Ethiopian Jews who died on their journey to reach the country. The government chose the 28th of Iyar, Jerusalem Day, for the annual memorial ceremony; the Knesset’s memorial document records the decision and the dedication of the Mount Herzl memorial in 2007. See the memorial’s history for details.