If you’ve watched the Netflix movie ‘Red Sea Diving Resort’, you may have wondered who Ari is. Ari is a fictional character in the movie, but he represents a real-life person who played a critical role in Operation Brothers, the rescue mission that inspired the film.
Ari’s Background
Ari is portrayed in the movie by Michael K. Williams. He’s a former Mossad agent who becomes the team leader of the Ethiopian Jews’ rescue operation. In real life, Ari is based on Gad Shimron, an Israeli spy who worked for Mossad in the 1980s.
The Mission
In 1984, thousands of Ethiopian Jews were living in refugee camps in Sudan. They had fled Ethiopia due to political turmoil and famine but were stuck in Sudan with no way out. Israel wanted to bring them home but had no diplomatic relations with Sudan at the time.
Mossad came up with a plan to set up a fake diving resort on the Red Sea coast of Sudan as a cover for their rescue mission. They sent agents to Sudan to buy a hotel and turn it into a resort while simultaneously rescuing Ethiopian Jews from nearby refugee camps.
Ari’s Role
In the movie, Ari is responsible for leading and coordinating the rescue operations on land. He works closely with Kabede Bimro (played by Chris Chalk), an Ethiopian Jew who acts as their local guide and interpreter.
Ari’s character represents Shimron, who was one of the Mossad agents that coordinated Operation Brothers on the ground in Sudan. Shimron was responsible for setting up safe houses for rescued Ethiopian Jews and transporting them to Israel via covert means.
The Legacy
Operation Brothers was successful, and over 7,000 Ethiopian Jews were rescued from Sudan and brought to Israel between 1984 and 1985. The operation remained classified until 2019 when the Israeli government acknowledged its role and released information about it.
The movie ‘Red Sea Diving Resort’ is a fictionalized account of the operation, but it aims to bring attention to the real-life heroes who risked their lives to save others. Gad Shimron’s book ‘Mossad Exodus’ provides an in-depth look at the operation and the people involved, including himself and his fellow Mossad agents.
Conclusion
Ari may be a fictional character in ‘Red Sea Diving Resort’, but his portrayal is based on a real-life hero who played a critical role in one of Mossad’s most daring operations. The rescue of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan was a remarkable feat that highlighted Israel’s commitment to its people and its ability to execute complex operations under challenging circumstances.