Operation Solomon: The Daring Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews

by Stephen Spector

Book Overview

"Operation Solomon" was one of the most remarkable rescue efforts in modern history, in which more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted to Israel in little more than a day. In this riveting volume, Stephen Spector offers the definitive account of this incredible story, based on over 200 interviews and exclusive access to confidential documents.
Written with the pace and immediacy of a novel, here is the dramatic story of the rescue of the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019530716X
• ISBN13: 9780195307160
• Release Date: July 2006
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.7" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Ethiopian history

I have not read this yet, but have heard about it. We are glad to find any product that can help us understand our children's Ethiopian history and share with them as they get older.

A Fascinating and Well-Documented History

It took the government of Israel nearly three decades to take significant steps to bring the Jews of Ethiopia to Israel, as Mitchell G. Bard of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise wrote, but when it did finally make a commitment to do so in the late 1970s, it carried out daring and dramatic operations. The story of Operation Solomon--how Israel evacuated more than 14,000 Jews in less than thirty-six hours--is the subject of Spector's fascinating and well-documented history. Following the first large-scale rescue in 1984, Israel learned that the Ethiopian Jewish population was far larger than previously thought. Their predicament became increasingly dire as Ethiopia dissolved into civil war. By 1990-91, thousands of Jews were identified by American activists who provided them humanitarian assistance and called on Israel to allow them all to come to Israel. The Ethiopian government, however, saw its Jews as bargaining chips and did not want to let them go without extracting a price from Israel. Initially, it sought weapons but ultimately settled for a large payment of cash. The U.S. government played a key role. Diplomats, Senator Rudy Boschwitz, and President George H.W. Bush all weighed in to secure Ethiopian permission to allow the Jews to leave. Spector does not give Bush the credit he deserves, presenting him as merely signing off on the requests of others rather than himself strongly supporting the rescue. This is an example of the one weakness of the book, which is that it is missing the historical context of the story, in this case, Bush's direct involvement, when vice president, in negotiations with Sudan for the earlier rescue of the Ethiopian Jews. Spector has interviewed many of the key players and done a good job of sorting out the relative influence of Israeli, Ethiopian, and American officials, activists, and Jewish organizational leaders. It is a marvelous story, and there is enough credit to go around, but Spector also reveals the underside, especially some of the petty jealousies, particularly among the Israelis, that hindered the rescue.

A powerful and inspirational account of some recent history

Israel has been making good on its task of being a refuge for Jews. In the decade prior to 1948, hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of Jewish lives would have been saved had Israel existed. They would have moved to Israel much as Jews actually did in 1948 and the next few years. In those days, Jews reached Israel from Europe, Yemen and elsewhere. But not too many showed up from Ethiopia. And this book begins by explaining why. One complication is that the Ethiopian Jews are not genetically related to the Ashkenazic (German) or Sephardic (Spanish) Jews. Does that mean that they are not really Jews? Well, that's up to Israel and some of its rabbis and other leaders to decide. They certainly look like Jews to me, but I'm a Pagan, and my opinion isn't relevant. On the other hand, they also look like Jews to some Israelis rabbis whose opinion is relevant. And it seems that there may well be a third branch of Jews, in addition to the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim. When Golda Meir was the Prime Minister of Israel, she showed little interest in bringing the Ethiopians to Israel, in part because she feared that it would endanger Israeli relations with Ethiopia and other African nations. But Menachim Begin felt that Israel's claim to be a Zionist state would be sabotaged unless it could bring Ethiopian Jews into the country. As for the Ethiopian Jews, most of them not only wanted to immigrate to Israel but were willing to risk their lives to do so. Unfortunately, after the Yom Kippur War, most African nations, including Ethiopia, broke diplomatic relations with Israel. That's where this book starts, and it continues by describing the rescue of Ethiopian Jews, over 94,000 of whom now live in Israel. The most exciting part is about the airlift of over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in May, 1991 (Operation Solomon). It happened quickly. The first plane left Addis Ababa at 1:30 PM on May 24, and the final one, less than a day later, at 11:35 AM on May 25, with the planes crossing the Red Sea, of course. I found the book very exciting, as it described the wars and revolutions that confronted everyone in the region, as well as the various bribes that people had to pay to try to free the Ethiopian Jews. And I feel it has a moral: the oppressed can indeed be liberated, and people will show courage and strength to help liberate themselves and to liberate others.

Bringing the Beta Israel home

This remarkable book tells the history of the rescue and homecoming of the Jews of Ethiopia. In Ethiopia they were known as "Falasha" which means Landless, an Exile or a Wanderer. They called themselves Beta Israel (House of Israel) and in the 1980s the community decided to make Aliyah to Israel. The highlight of this narrative is the actual Operation Solomon, when more than 14 000 of the Beta Israel were airlifted to Israel in May 1991. Based on about 200 interviews with people in Ethiopia, Israel, the UK and the USA plus many articles and documents, the book offers a tale of chilling suspense, great sacrifice and awesome courage and joy. The constant political intrigue leading up to the airlift made it a risky enterprise from various angles. Ethiopia was in a state of turmoil as the liberation movements were winning the civil war against dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. Eventually Addis Abeba was surrounded. For more than a year, the Beta Israel stayed in terrible conditions in the city as the Ethiopian tyrant tried to use them to get weapons from Israel to fight his enemies. Spector describes how, at the height of the tension as the buses reached the airport from the Israeli embassy compound, the people calmly and patiently waited their turn. This was one of the main reasons the operation succeeded. From Friday 24th May to Saturday 25th May, 34 hours and 4 minutes after the first plane left Ben Gurion Airport, the mission was accomplished: 14 310 Beta Israel were safe in their true homeland. Forty-one military and El Al aircraft took part. One of the organizers is quoted as saying that it was a very disorganized miracle. But a miracle it was, as once again Israel plucked Jews out of danger. The moving reception of the Beta Israel at Ben Gurion airport was filled with wonder and elation, reminiscent of scenes from the Bible. Those who were still left behind were permitted to go from mid September of that year and in 1992, the 2000 Jews of Quara were also relocated to Israel. There are three appendices: 1. Annual and Monthly Emigration from Addis Abeba to Israel, 1977 - 2003; 2. The number of people brought to Israel in operation Solomon; 3. A conversation with Kassa Kabede, a former Ethiopian official involved in the operation. The book includes Notes and an extensive bibliography of books, scholarly articles, press articles, public and unpublished documents, private memoirs, reports, correspondence and notes, plus oral history interviews. The 16pp. of plates contain black and white photographs of the action and of some of the people who were involved. Operation Solomon was a highlight in the history of Israel. After all the politics, intrigue, secret deals and obstacles, the Jews of Ethiopia were delivered. The book reads like a thriller and has one on edge until the last plane had landed at Ben Gurion. Divine Providence must have played a part for things to have turned out so well. I highly recommend this suspenseful and uplifting book

History -- Written as an exciting mystery

Stephen Spector has written a riveting, meticulously researched, suspenseful history of Operation Solomon. The previously untold stories of this event involve a missing $35 million, hostages and heroism. This book appeals to a broad readership, with Bible prophecy fulfillment, return to the Promised Land, perilous journeys, political machinations, personal sacrifice and much more. An uplifting story of triumph over adversity.