Operation Moses: Chronology of an Exodus

The following is a chronology of events in the rescue of the Ethiopian Jews from refugee camps in Sudan:

January through April, 1984--The first large groups of Ethiopian Jews arrive in Sudan after trekking from their homelands. The arrivals continue, though in lesser numbers, into September, 1984.

March, 1984--An unmarked transport plane, believed to be involved in clandestine efforts to remove small numbers of Ethiopian Jews, is seen landing in the Sudanese desert.

June, 1984--With death rates reaching ever-higher levels among Ethiopian Jews in Sudan, the alarm is sounded in Washington and Jerusalem and in the American Jewish community, but officials seem at a loss to find a solution to the problem.

September, 1984--A key Sudanese official agrees to discuss a secret plan for the removal of the Ethiopian Jews from Sudan. The plan, developed by Jerry Weaver of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, came to be known as “Operation Moses.”

Nov. 20, 1984--The first flight under Operation Moses leaves Khartoum airport, bound for Europe and then Israel.

Jan. 4, 1985--The Israeli government announces that it has been receiving Ethiopian Jews through a secret airlift from Sudan. Two days later, Sudanese officials halt the flights, leaving an unknown number of the Ethiopians in Sudan.

March 7, 1985--Vice President George Bush secretly negotiates an agreement with Sudanese President Jaafar Numeiri for the removal of the Ethiopian Jews still in Sudan.

March 22, 1985--Under CIA direction, the last of the Ethiopian Jews in Sudan are airlifted to Israel.