July 4, 2011, - 12:28 am
Israel’s Raid on Entebbe, Thirty-Five Years Ago Today
On America’s Independence Day, let’s not forget another important anniversary for Western Civilization vs. jihadists takes place on July 4, 2011–the 35th anniversary of Operation Entebbe a/k/a Operation Thunderbolt a/k/a Operation Jonathan. It’s an operation that hearkens back to a time, just a few decades ago when Israel was fearless and great.
Israelis Welcome Heroic Israeli Commandos Upon Return From Rescue at Entebbe
On July 4, 1976, we celebrated a great milestone in American history, the Bicentennial–200 years of American survival and triumph. My parents took me and my sisters to Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum in Dearbornistan, Michigan, to watch a Bicentennial parade. As proud Americans, we joyously partook in America’s monumental celebration. I asked my dad if I would be around for the Tricentennial, and he said, “Maybe . . . if you live to be 107 years old.” But there was a cherry on top, that day, which I will always remember, even though I was just seven years old at the time: the heroic, successful Israeli Army rescue of passengers that hijackers working for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist group (and Germany’s Baader-Meinhoff Gang/Red Army) had taken hostage to Uganda.
I remember how proud my late father was, seeing the reports on the TV news that night, just after we returned home from our sunny, happy day at the parade. America was jubilant in celebrating its special birthday and independence, and its closest ally in the world, Israel, was also jubilant in the rescue of people taken hostage on an Air France flight because they were Jews and flying from Israel. Israel paid special tribute and had parades in honor of its ally, America’s 200 years of independence. But Israel also had its own celebration going on–that Israel had successfully rescued so many Jewish lives threatened by Palestinian terrorists. I say Palestinian–and not Muslim–because the PFLP was not an Islamic organization. Its leader, George Habash, and his deputy, Wadih Haddad, were Christian Arabs. Yes, Christian Arabs have their key role in Arab terrorism, and don’t ever forget it.
Rescued Hostages Return to Israel From Entebbe
The Israeli commandos at Entebbe carried out a secret mission planned on the previous Jewish Sabbath to rescue the passengers. All but four passengers were rescued. Three were shot by the pro-Palestinian hijackers, and an old Jewish lady was murdered by Muslim Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin’s henchmen, as she sought medical treatment at a Ugandan hospital. The operation’s commander, Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu a/k/a Jonathan Netanyahu–whom many say was the superior Netanyahu brother to current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was killed in the raid. Other than this casualty, the operation was carried out with surgical accuracy and success. Although the flight contained 248 passengers, as is usual for bigoted Palestinians and their supporters, the non-Jewish passengers were freed, and 103 Jewish hostages were rescued by Netanyahu and his fellow IDF commandos. The Israeli commandos also killed all three hijackers and 45 Ugandan soldiers (have fun with those 72-revirginized, chumps!), and they blew up 11 Soviet MiGs. An awesome achievement.
There are three terrific movies made about Operation Entebbe, all of which I recommend highly. There is the great “Raid on Entebbe
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Incidentally, I also recommend the book, The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu: The Commander of the Entebbe Rescue Force
As I noted, this was not only a great victory for Israel, but for the West. It was one of the few times when the West successfully saved most hostages versus Islamic terrorists (the Ugandans) and pan-Arabist hijackers (from the PFLP and the German terrorist groups). And, unlike the Navy SEALS operation killing Bin Laden, there was no burial at sea complete with a Muslim imam’s blessings for the Ugandan soldiers. Nope, Israel left ’em to rot. And that’s the way it should be.
So, as we celebrate our country’s 235th anniversary, remember another important anniversary in the West’s fight versus our enemies.
Tags: 35 years ago, 35th anniversary, Air France, Baader Meinhoff Gang, Bicentennial, Christian, Christian Arabs, Dearborn, Dearbornistan, Entebbe, George Habash, Greenfield Village, Henry Ford Museum, Hollywood, IDF, Idi Amin, Islam, Israel, Israeli Army, Israeli Commandos, Jonathan Netanyahu, July 4 1976, Mivtsa Yonatan, Mivtza Yonatan, Muslim, Operation Entebbe, Operation Jonathan, Operation Thunderbolt, Operation Yonatan, PFLP, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Raid on Entebbe, Red Army, thirty-fifth anniversary, thirty-five years ago, TV movies, Uganda, Victory at Entebbe, Wadih Haddad, Yonatan Netanyahu, Yoni Netanyahu
Debbie,
whatever you think of Israel’s Prime Minister, he clearly adores his older brother and was affected by the loss. Yoni is an Israeli national hero. I don’t think there was a more selfless man who gave his life for his people and his country. And he made a difference in saving innocent Jews from certain death. His memory will always be for a blessing.
In Israel, its rightly called Operation Yonathan. I remember the feeling when I heard on the news, I was electrified. I followed the terrifying ordeal of the Jewish hostages from the beginning and I always thought G-d would save them. And He did. The lesson I learned that night was this: we don’t have to surrender to evil. We have to find the courage to overcome it.
I was 13 years old then and that moment will stay me all of my life! I have always loved Israel and that day stood out for me for what Jews can do – they can do anything. My feeling is 35 years later, Israel’s best days are not behind it – Israel’s best days are yet to come!
Happy 4th!!!
NormanF on July 4, 2011 at 12:50 am