Operation Solomon

Operation Solomon was a covert mission carried out in May 1991 to airlift over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) to Israel. Amid political instability and anti-Semitic violence in Ethiopia, the Israeli government facilitated the rapid migration to ensure their safety and preserve their community. Over approximately 36 hours, Israeli military aircraft transported the evacuees from Ethiopia to Israel, representing one of the largest solo humanitarian airlifts in history. The operation significantly increased Israel’s Jewish population and helped strengthen the connection between Ethiopian Jews and the wider Jewish community.