Mengistu / Mugabe and the Falashah and President Bush Snr.

Operation Promise, is a US$160 Mn initiative of United Jewish Communities and the Jewish Federations of North America, and will help bring remaining Ethiopian Jews to Israel and help mainstream the entire Ethiopian-Israeli community. Israel organised the airlifting of 20,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 1984 and another 15,000 members of the community in 1991.

In Ethiopia, 20,000 or more wait to make aliyah Many in the northern Gondar region of the the Falasha Mura, (Falashas—the alien ones, the invaders) many of whom were forced to convert to Christianity.many of whom have been forced to convert to Christianity.

The first modern contact with the now oppressed community came in 1769, when Scottish explorer James Bruce stumbled upon them while searching for the source of the Nile River.

After Selassie was replaced Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, whose Marxist-Leninist dictatorship increased the threat to the Beta Israel. During the weeks surrounding Mengistu's coup, an estimated 2,500 Jews were killed and 7,000 became homeless.

After taking office in 1977, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin was eager to facilitate the rescue of Ethiopia's Jews, and so Israel entered into a period of selling arms to the Mariam government in hopes that Ethiopia would allow Jews to leave for Israel. In 1977, Begin asked President Mengistu to allow 200 Ethiopian Jews to leave for Israel aboard an Israeli military jet that had emptied its military cargo and was returning to Israel.

Under a news blackout for security reasons, Operation Moses began on November 18, 1984, and ended six weeks later on January 5, 1985. In that time, almost 8,000 Jews were rescued and brought to Israel.

In 1985, then Vice President George Bush arranged a CIA-sponsored follow-up mission to Operation Moses. Operation Joshua brought an additional 800 Beta Israel from Sudan to Israel.

In November 1990, Ethiopia and Israel agreed to allow Ethiopian Jews to move to Israel under the context of "family reunification." It soon became clear, however, that Mengistu was willing to allow Ethiopian Jews to leave outside of the guise of reunification. November and December, 1990, showed increased numbers of Ethiopians leaving for Israel.

In early 1991, Eritrean and Tigrean rebels began a concerted attack on Mengistu forces, meeting with surprising success for the first time since the civil war began in 1975. With the rebel armies advancing each day, Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam fled his country in early May. (The Americans through the offices of the US Ambassador found him a refuge in Zimbabwe where he lives to this day in considerable splendour under the protection of Robert Mugabe)

Operation Solomon was undertaken by the Likud government of Yitzhak Shamir and authorized a special permit for the Israeli airline, El Al, to fly on the Jewish Sabbath. On Friday, May 24, and continuing non-stop for 36 hours, a total of 34 El Al jumbo jets and Hercules C-130s—seats removed to accommodate the maximum number of Ethiopians.

A total of 14,324 Ethiopian Jews were rescued and resettled in Israel, a modern exodus of the grandest design.

Meanwhile in Israel, 100,000 Ethiopians struggle to find their way. Most are illiterate, both in Hebrew and in their native Amharic. Most face the challenge of shifting from an agrarian livelihood to an urban workforce. Families break down as the traditional elder-centered power structure is upended, and younger generations acclimate and leave behind parents and grandparents. Among the larger Israeli community, there is resentment over the support they receive. (The Israeli government may spend as much as $100,000 for services to each Ethiopian over his or her lifetime.) And sadly, racism has emerged.

Melkeinech Avera, 95, was the Leader of his village in Ethiopia. Melkeinech Avera, 95, was the was wealthy by any standard. A large and loving family and a big farm, crops and animals .... coming to Jerusalem was his dream. He would do anything – and leave everything – to make that dream come true for himself and his family. He was in his 60s when the trip began; and the walk through the Sudanese desert and the refugee camps took their toll. Melkeinech got them to Israel. He hasn’t worked since they arrived, and he’s had great difficulty learning Hebrew, Melkeinech is satisfied that he got his family to Israel.

Matti Elias is the elder statesman of the Ethiopian community in Israel. He arrived in 1956, with 14 other high school students. They were brought for a year; and Mr. Elias stayed, married a kibbutznik and still lives on the kibbutz.

He says , "“Our community – the Madele family, and the other nearly 100,000 Ethiopians now living in Israel – need education, employment and leadership. We are a strong, determined people, and with help from North American Jews and our family here in Israel, we will find our place in this society.”

Meanwhile Mengistu enjoys the sun. Read more here