Operation Solomon was a 1991 covert Israeli military operation to take Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

In 1991, the sitting Ethiopian government, the Mengistu regime, was close to being toppled with the recent military successes of Eritrean and Tigrean rebels, threatening Ethiopia with dangerous political destabilization. Several Jewish organizations, including the state of Israel, were concerned about the well-being of the sizable population of Ethiopian Jews, properly referred to as Beta Israel, residing in Ethiopia. Also, the Mengistu regime had made mass emigration difficult for Beta Israel residing in Ethiopia, and the regime's dwindling power presented a promising opportunity for those Beta Israel who had been wanting to emigrate to Israel. In the previous year, 1990, the Israeli government and Israeli Defense Forces, aware of Mengistu's worsening political situation, made covert plans to airlift the Beta Israel population in Ethiopia to Israel. This became the largest emigration of Beta Israel to date. The Tigray-Tigrinya are an ethnic group who live in Eritrea and the northern highlands of Ethiopias Tigray province. ... The Beta Israel (or House of Israel), known by outsiders by the pejorative term Falasha or Falash Mura (exiles or strangers) are Jews of Ethiopian origin. ... The Beta Israel (Hebrew: , Geez ቤተ፡ እስራኤል BÄ“ta Isrāēl, Amharic BÄ“te Isrāēl, from Aramaic for House of Israel), also known by the term Falasha (Amharic for Exiles or Strangers, as they were called by non-Jewish Ethiopians), a term that may be considered pejorative, are Jews of... Politics of Israel comprises of several interwoven components: Laws Israels governmental system is based on several basic laws enacted by its unicameral parliament, the Knesset. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces... The Beta Israel (Hebrew: , Geez ቤተ፡ እስራኤል BÄ“ta Isrāēl, Amharic BÄ“te Isrāēl, from Aramaic for House of Israel), also known by the term Falasha (Amharic for Exiles or Strangers, as they were called by non-Jewish Ethiopians), a term that may be considered pejorative, are Jews of... The Beta Israel (Hebrew: , Geez ቤተ፡ እስራኤል BÄ“ta Isrāēl, Amharic BÄ“te Isrāēl, from Aramaic for House of Israel), also known by the term Falasha (Amharic for Exiles or Strangers, as they were called by non-Jewish Ethiopians), a term that may be considered pejorative, are Jews of...

In 36 hours, non-stop flights of 34 IAF C-130s, filled to absolute capacity with seats transported 14,325 Beta Israel émigrés from Ethiopia to Israel, where they were given food and shelter. After it was over, Operation Solomon took twice as many Beta Israel émigrés to Israel as Operation Moses and Operation Joshua combined. IAF could mean Indian Air Force Industrial Areas Foundation International Astronautical Federation Israeli Air Force This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... The Beta Israel (Hebrew: , Geez ቤተ፡ እስራኤል BÄ“ta Isrāēl, Amharic BÄ“te Isrāēl, from Aramaic for House of Israel), also known by the term Falasha (Amharic for Exiles or Strangers, as they were called by non-Jewish Ethiopians), a term that may be considered pejorative, are Jews of... Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has migrated out, but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile. ... Operation Moses, named after the biblical figure Moses, was the covert removal of Ethiopian Jews (known as Beta Israel) from Sudan during a famine in 1984. ... Operation Joshua was the 1985 removal of 800 Ethiopian Jews (called Beta Israel) from Sudan to Israel. ...

The operation set a world record for single-flight passenger load on 24 May 1991 when an El Al 747 carried 1,087 (which became 1,088 as a baby was born mid-flight^{[citation needed]}) passengers to Israel.

See also

• Operation Moses
• Operation Joshua

Operation Moses, named after the biblical figure Moses, was the covert removal of Ethiopian Jews (known as Beta Israel) from Sudan during a famine in 1984. ... Operation Joshua was the 1985 removal of 800 Ethiopian Jews (called Beta Israel) from Sudan to Israel. ...

Further reading

• Alisa Poskanzer (2000). Ethiopian Exodus. (Gefen Publishing House)
• Ricki Rosen (2006). Transformations: From Ethiopia to Israel.
• Naomi Samuel (1999). The Moon is Bread. Gefen Publishing House.
• Shmuel Yilma (1996). From Falasha to Freedom: An Ethiopian Jew's Journey to Jerusalem. Gefen Publishing House.
• Baruch Meiri (2001). The Dream Behind Bars: The Story of the Prisoners of Zion from Ethiopia. Gefen Publishing House.