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.â€
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.
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