    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 24, 1991]
    [Pages 557-558]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the Airlift of Ethiopian Jews
    to Israel
    May 24, 1991

        We are delighted to announce that this morning at 7 a.m. Washington
    time, an emergency humanitarian airlift began which will transport the
    18,000 Ethiopian Jews in Addis Ababa to Israel. The operation results
    from an agreement between the Governments of Israel and Ethiopia. We
    expect the airlift to last 2 days. We have been informed that the
    operation is proceeding smoothly.
        We want to express our appreciation to Acting President Tesfaye
    Gebre-Kidan of Ethiopia. We understand that the Ethiopian decision to
    allow the Falashas to depart the country was taken in response to a
    letter from President Bush on May 22. Our initiative in this
    humanitarian operation commenced with the visit of Senator Rudy
    Boschwitz to Addis Ababa as a special emissary of the President on April
    26-27.
        The United States will be hosting a conference in London starting on
    May 27 to

    [[Page 558]]

    help facilitate an end to the tragic war in Ethiopia. We hope at that
    time to see the establishment of a provisional government and agreement
    on a plan for a political transition leading to peace and democracy.
        Israeli Prime Minister Shamir called President Bush at about 11 a.m.
    aboard Air Force One to thank him for the American role in release of
    the Falashas. The Prime Minister and the President also discussed the
    Mideast peace process. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for
    Secretary Baker's efforts in the Mideast and said he hoped the peace
    process will continue.

                        aNote: The statement referred to former Senator Rudy
                            Boschwitz; Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir of
                            Israel; and Secretary of State James A. Baker
                            III.