Operation Entebbe
Part of Arab-Israeli Conflict
Date July 4, 1976 Location Entebbe Airport, Uganda Result Mission successful; most hostages rescued
Belligerents
Israel	PFLP Revolutionäre Zellen  Uganda
Commanders
Yekutiel "Kuti" Adam Dan Shomron Yonatan Netanyahu† Moshe "Muki" Betser	Wadie Haddad Wilfried Böse† Idi Amin
Strength
Approximately 100 Commandos, plus air crew and support personnel	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Yonatan Netanyahu killed 5 commandos wounded	7 hijackers killed 45 Ugandan soldiers killed
4 hostages killed 10 hostages wounded

Operation Entebbe, also known as the Entebbe Raid, was a counter-terrorism hostage-rescue mission carried out by the Israel Defense Force (IDF) at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on the night of July 3 and early morning of July 4, 1976. In the wake of the hijacking of Air France flight 139 and the hijackers' threats to kill the hostages if their prisoner release demands were not met, a plan was drawn up to airlift the hostages to safety. These plans took into account the likelihood of armed resistance from Ugandan military troops. Combatants Arab nations Israel Arab-Israeli conflict series History of the Arab-Israeli conflict Views of the Arab-Israeli conflict International law and the Arab-Israeli conflict Arab-Israeli conflict facts, figures, and statistics Participants Israeli-Palestinian conflict · Israel-Lebanon conflict · Arab League · Soviet Union / Russia · Israel, Palestine and the... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Entebbe International Airport is the main international airport of Uganda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... During the 1970s, Revolutionary Cells (RZ) was perhaps the most successful (based upon the number of attacks & the limited number of arrests) of the left-wing German terrorist organizations, although certainly not the most well known. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uganda. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Yekutiel Kuti Adam (November 3, 1927 - June 10, 1982) was an Israeli general, former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli Defence Forces. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Dan Shomron (born 1937) was the 13th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, from 1987 to 1991. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wadie Haddad (1927–1978), a. ... Wilfried Bose was a member of the left-wing German terrorist group Revolutionary Cells (RZ) known, along with Brigitte Kuhlmann, for his hijacking of an Israeli airline flying from Athens, Greece to Paris, France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uganda. ... Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]–16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... Entebbe International Airport is the main international airport of Uganda. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hijackers inside flightdeck of TWA Flight 847 Aircraft hijacking (also known as skyjacking and aircraft piracy) is the take-over of an aircraft, by a person or group, usually armed. ... Air France (formally Société Air France) is Europes largest airline company. ...

Originally codenamed Operation Thunderbolt (or Operation Thunderball) by the IDF, the operation was retroactively renamed Operation Yonatan in memory of the Sayeret Matkal commander Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu who was killed in action. Four hostages were killed and five Israeli commandos were wounded. Retroactive nomenclature is the telling of the earlier history of a person, place or thing while referring to said person, place or thing by a name that came into use at a later date. ... Sayeret Matkal (Hebrew: סיירת מטכל, translation: General Staff Reconnaissance unit) is the elite special forces unit of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Hijack

On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139, an Airbus A300 (Airbus A300B4-203), registration F-BVGG (cn 019), originating from Tel Aviv, carrying 248 passengers and a crew of 12, took off from Athens, heading for Paris. Soon after the 12:30 p.m. takeoff, the flight was hijacked by two Palestinians from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - External Operations (PFLP-EO) and two Germans from the German "Revolutionary Cells (RZ)" (Wilfried Böse and Brigitte Kuhlmann), who commandeered the flight, diverting it to Benghazi, Libya. There it was held on the ground for seven hours for refueling, during which time a female hostage who pretended she was pregnant and having a miscarriage was released.^[1] The plane left Benghazi, and at 3:15 it arrived at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Air France (formally Société Air France) is Europes largest airline company. ... The Airbus A300 is a short to medium range widebody aircraft. ... Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Hijackers inside flightdeck of TWA Flight 847 Aircraft hijacking (also known as skyjacking and aircraft piracy) is the take-over of an aircraft, by a person or group, usually armed. ... The term Palestinian has other usages, for which see definitions of Palestinian. ... The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - External Operations (PFLP-EO) or Special Operations (PFLP-SO) or Special Operations Group (PFLP-SOG) were organizational names used by Palestinian radical Wadie Haddad when engaging in international attacks, that were regarded as terrorism, and were not sanctioned by the PFLP. A... During the 1970s, Revolutionary Cells (RZ) was perhaps the most successful (based upon the number of attacks & the limited number of arrests) of the left-wing German terrorist organizations, although certainly not the most well known. ... Wilfried Bose was a member of the left-wing German terrorist group Revolutionary Cells (RZ) known, along with Brigitte Kuhlmann, for his hijacking of an Israeli airline flying from Athens, Greece to Paris, France. ... Brigitte Kuhlmann was a member of the West German left-wing terrorist group Revolutionary Cells (RZ), and was killed by the IDF in Entebbe, Uganda in Operation Entebbe. ... Colourful buildings in the city centre. ... Entebbe International Airport is the main international airport of Uganda. ...

At Entebbe, the four hijackers were joined by three additional terrorists, supported by the pro-Palestinian forces of Uganda's President, Idi Amin. The hijackers were led by Böse (and not, as occasionally reported, by Carlos the Jackal).^{[citation needed]} They demanded the release of 40 Palestinians held in Israel and 13 other detainees imprisoned in Kenya, France, Switzerland, and West Germany; if these demands were not met, they threatened to begin killing hostages on July 1, 1976. Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]–16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ... Ilich Ramírez Sánchez (born October 12, 1949) is a Venezuelan-born self-proclaimed leftist revolutionary. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The hijackers held the passengers hostage for a week in the transit hall of Entebbe Airport (now the old terminal). Some hostages were released, but 105 Israelis and French Jews remained captive.^[2] The hijackers threatened to kill them if Israel did not comply with their demands. This "selection process," whereby Jews were singled out, aroused horror in some circles for its association with the Nazis.

Upon the announcement by the hijackers that the airline crew and non-Jewish passengers would be released and put on another Air France plane that had been brought to Entebbe for that purpose, the flight captain Michel Bacos told the hijackers that all passengers, including the remaining ones, were his responsibility, and that he would not leave them behind. Bacos' entire crew followed suit. A French nun also refused to leave, insisting that one of the remaining hostages take her place, but she was forced into the awaiting Air France plane by Ugandan soldiers.^[3] A total of 83 Israeli and/or Jewish hostages remained, as well as 20 others, most of whom included the crew of the Air France plane. For other uses, see Nun (disambiguation). ...

Nationalites

Nationality	Passengers	Crew	Total
Belgium	4	0	4
Denmark	2	0	2
France	42	12	54
Greece	25	0	25
Germany	1	0	1
Israel	84	0	84
Italy	9	0	9
Japan	1	0	1
South Korea	1	0	1
Spain	5	0	5
United Kingdom	30	0	30
United States	32	0	32
Total	248	12	260

Image File history File links Flag_of_Belgium_(civil). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Greece. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Germany. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

The raid

On the July 1 deadline,^[4] the Israeli government offered to negotiate with the hijackers in order to extend the deadline to July 4. On July 3, the Israeli cabinet approved a rescue mission,^[5] Operation Entebbe, under the command of Major General Yekutiel "Kuti" Adam, Deputy Commander was Matan Vilnai.^[6] Brigadier General Dan Shomron was appointed to command the operation on the ground.^[7] After days of collecting intelligence and planning by Netanyahu's deputy Moshe "Muki" Betser, four Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircraft flew secretly to Entebbe Airport, by cover of night, without aid of ground control. is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Israels governmental system is based on several basic laws enacted by its unicameral parliament, the Knesset. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cabinet of Israel is a formal body comprised of government officials chosen and led by a Prime Minister. ... Aluf is the term used for general in the Israeli Defence Forces. ... Yekutiel Kuti Adam (November 3, 1927 - June 10, 1982) was an Israeli general, former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli Defence Forces. ... Matan Vilnai (מתן וילנאי, born May 20, 1944) is an Israeli politician and a former Major General in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). ... Tat Aluf (Hebrew: תת-אלוף), often abbreviated to Taal (תאל) is the equivalent rank in the Israel Defence Forces to Brigadier-General in the US Army (and others) and Brigadier in the British and other armies. ... Dan Shomron (born 1937) was the 13th Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, from 1987 to 1991. ... Intelligence (abbreviated or ) is the process and the result of gathering information and analyzing it to answer questions or obtain advance warnings needed to plan for the future. ... The Israeli Air Force (IAF; Hebrew: זרוע האויר והחלל, Zroa HaAvir VeHaḤalal, Air and Space Division, commonly known as חיל האוויר Hel HaAvir) is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces. ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ...

Their route was over Sharm al-Sheikh, and down the international flight path over the Red Sea. Near the south outlet of the Red Sea the C-130s turned right and passed south of Djibouti. From there they went to a point northeast of Nairobi, Kenya (likely across Somalia and the Ogaden area of Ethiopia), then turned west passing through the African Rift Valley and over Lake Victoria ^[8]. They were followed by two Boeing 707 jets. The first Boeing contained medical facilities and landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. The commander of the operation, General Yekutiel Adam, was on board the second Boeing that circled over Entebbe Airport during the raid.^[7] Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai. ... Location of the Red Sea The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. ... Nairobi (pronounced IPA: ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. ... This article is about the geographical area. ... Northern section of the Great Rift Valley. ... For other places with the same name, see Lake Victoria (disambiguation). ... The Boeing 707 is an American four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ... Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, (IATA: NBO, ICAO: HKJK) formerly called Nairobi International Airport is one of Kenyas large aviation facilities and East Africas busiest airport. ... Nairobi (pronounced IPA: ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. ... Yekutiel Kuti Adam (November 3, 1927 - June 10, 1982) was an Israeli general, former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli Defence Forces. ...

The Israeli ground task force numbered approximately 100 personnel and comprised the following:

• The Ground Command & Control Element

This small group comprised the overall ground commander, Brig. Gen. Shomron, and the communications and support personnel.

• The Assault or "Takeover" Element

Led by Lt. Col. Netanyahu, this force was composed entirely of commandos from Sayeret Matkal, and were given the primary task of assaulting the old terminal and rescuing the hostages. Major Betser personally led one of the element's assault teams, Matan Vilnai led another.

• The Blocking / Reinforcement or "Engagement" Element

Shaul Mofaz, a future IDF Chief of Staff, was a participant in this force, which was comprised mostly of commandos from Sayeret Tzanchanim and Sayeret Golani. This element was also equiped with light armoured vehicles such as the M-113 and BTR-type armoured personnel carriers and were responsible for:

1. Securing the area, and preventing any hostile ground force from interfering with the C-130 Hercules aircraft and the actual rescue.
2. Destroying the squadron of MiG fighter jets on the ground to prevent any possible interceptions by the Ugandan Air Force.
3. Assisting in the ground refuelling of the air transports.
4. Providing protection for and assisting in the loading of the hostages aboard the transports.

The Israeli forces landed at Entebbe an hour before midnight, with their cargo bay doors already open. A black Mercedes with accompanying Land Rovers was taken along to give the impression that the Israeli troops driving from the landed aircraft to the terminal building were an escort for Idi Amin or another high-ranking official. The Mercedes car was borrowed from an Israeli civilian and apparently spray-painted black for the raid, on the understanding that it would be returned to the owner in its original colour.^{[citation needed]} Sayeret Matkal (Hebrew: סיירת מטכל, translation: General Staff Reconnaissance unit) is the elite special forces unit of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF). ... Shaul Mofaz during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on November 10, 2003. ... Yahsar Tzanchanim (Airborne Special Forces Battalion) is an Israeli Defense Force unit under the direct command of the headquarters of the 35th (Paratrooper) Brigade, from which it is drawn. ... The Golani Brigade חטיבת גולני (aka. ... The M113 during the Vietnam War The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family. ... This page is about the Mercedes-Benz brand of automobiles and trucks from the DaimlerChrysler automobile manufacturer. ... Land Rover was the name of one of the first British civilian all-terrain utility vehicles, first produced by Rover in 1947. ... Airplane and Aeroplane redirect here. ... Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]–16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ... Spray painting is a painting technique where a device sprays a coating (paint, ink, varnish etc. ...

The Mercedes and its escort vehicles were quickly driven by the Israeli assault team members to the airport terminal in the same fashion as Amin. However, along the way, two Ugandan sentries, who were aware that Idi Amin had recently purchased a white Mercedes to replace his black one, ordered this procession of vehicles to stop. Both of these sentries were immediately shot dead by the Israeli commandos. Fearing premature alerting of associates to the hijackers, the Israeli assault team was quickly sent into action.

The hostages were in the main hall of the airport building, directly adjacent to the runway. The Israelis sprang from their vehicles and burst into the terminal yelling, "Get down! Get down!"^{[citation needed]} in both Hebrew and English. A 19-year-old French Jew named Jean-Jacques Maimoni (who chose to identify himself as an Israeli Jew to the hijackers even though he had a French passport), stood up, however.^{[citation needed]} He was killed by the Israeli commandos, who mistook him for a hijacker. Another hostage, Pasco Cohen, 52, manager of an Israeli medical insurance fund, was also fatally wounded by gunfire, either from the hijackers or accidentally by the Israeli commandos.^{[citation needed]} A third hostage, 56-year-old Ida Borochovitch, a Russian Jew who had immigrated to Israel, was also killed in the crossfire.^[9] At one point, an Israeli commando called out in Hebrew, "Where are the rest of them?", apparently referring to the hijackers.^{[citation needed]} The hostages pointed to a connecting door of the airport's main hall, into which the Israeli commandos threw several hand grenades. They then entered the room and shot dead the three remaining hijackers, thus completing their assault. The Modern Hebrew language is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Grenade redirects here. ...

Meanwhile, the other three C-130 Hercules had landed and unloaded armored personnel carriers, which were to be used for defense during the anticipated hour of refueling, for the destruction of grounded Ugandan jet fighters so as to prevent them from pursuing the Israelis after their departure from Entebbe Airport, and for intelligence-gathering. The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop cargo aircraft and the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. ... East German BRDMs on parade during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of East Germany in 1989 Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ... An A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang fly in formation during an air show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. ...

After the raid, the Israeli assault team returned to their aircraft and began loading the hostages on board. Ugandan soldiers shot at them in the process. Without suffering any fatalities of their own, the Israeli commandos returned fire, finished the loading, and then left Entebbe Airport.

The entire assault lasted less than 30 minutes and all seven hijackers were killed. Yonatan Netanyahu was the only Israeli commando who died during the operation. He was killed near the airport entrance, apparently by a Ugandan sniper who fired at the Israeli commandos from the nearby airport control tower. At least five other Israeli commandos were wounded. Out of the 105 hostages, three were killed and approximately 10 were wounded. A total of 45 Ugandan soldiers were killed during the raid, and about 11 Ugandan Army Air Force MiG-17 fighter planes were destroyed on the ground at Entebbe Airport. The rescued hostages were flown to Israel via Nairobi, Kenya shortly after the fighting. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... MiG-17 at the Central Texas Airshow, USA, May 2003. ... Nairobi (pronounced IPA: ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. ...

Dora Bloch, a 75-year-old hostage taken to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, was killed by the Ugandans.^[9] In April 1987, Henry Kyemba, Uganda's Attorney General and Minister of Justice at the time, told the Uganda Human Rights Commission that Dora Bloch had been dragged from her hospital bed and murdered by two army officers on Idi Amin's orders. Bloch's remains were recovered near a sugar plantation 20 miles (32 km) east of Kampala in 1979,^[10] after the Uganda-Tanzania War led to the end of Amin's rule. Kayunga Childrens Concern is a community based organisation whose main aim and objective is to help needy/orphaned children in Kayunga district. ... Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. ... Henry Kyemba was Ugandas Attorney General and Minister of Justice during Ugandas rule by Idi Amin Dada. ... In most common law jurisdictions, the Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the government, and in some jurisdictions may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions. ... The Uganda Human Rights Commission serves to monitor and advance human rights in Uganda. ... Kampala is the capital city of Uganda. ... Combatants Uganda Libya Tanzania Peoples Defence Force & Uganda National Liberation Army Commanders Idi Amin Tanzanian army: Julius Nyerere UNLF: Tito Okello, Yoweri Museveni, David Oyite-Ojok Strength 3,000 Libyans, unknown number of Ugandan Army troops 100,000 Tanzanians, unknown number of Ugandan resistance troops, unknown number of Rwandan...

Background

Israeli firms were often involved in building projects in Africa during the 1960s and 1970s. One reason the raid was so well-planned was that the building in which the hostages were being held was built by an Israeli construction firm, who still had the blueprints, and supplied them to the government of Israel. Additionally, Mossad (Israel's intelligence service) built an accurate picture of the whereabouts of the hostages, the number of militants and the involvement of Ugandan troops from the released hostages in Paris.^[11] A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Blueprint (disambiguation). ... For the Haganah branch responsible for coordinating Jewish immigration into the British Mandate of Palestine, see Mossad Lealiyah Bet. ...

While planning the military operation, the Israeli army built a partial replica of the airport terminal with the help of some Israeli civilians who had helped build it. It has been claimed by researchers that after arriving at the military base to begin work on the replica building (not being aware beforehand what they were to do), the civilian Israeli contractors were invited to dinner with the commander of the base.^{[citation needed]} At the dinner, it was indicated to them that, upon completion of the replica, and in the best interest of national security, they would be held as guests of the military for a few days.^{[citation needed]} During the entire operation an extremely high level of secrecy was maintained.

According to a July 5, 2006, Associated Press interview with raid organizer "Muki" Betser, Mossad operatives extensively interviewed the hostages who had been released.^[12] As a result, another source of information was a French-Jewish passenger who had been mistakenly released with the non-Jewish hostages. Betzer reports that the man had military training and "a phenomenal memory," allowing him to give information about the number and arms of the hostage-takers, among other useful details.^[12] The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... For the Haganah branch responsible for coordinating Jewish immigration into the British Mandate of Palestine, see Mossad Lealiyah Bet. ...

In the week prior to the raid, Israel had tried a number of political avenues to obtain the release of the hostages. Many sources indicate that the Israeli cabinet was prepared to release Palestinian prisoners if a military solution seemed unlikely to succeed. A retired IDF officer, Baruch "Burka" Bar-Lev, had known Idi Amin for many years and was considered to have a strong personal relationship with him. At the request of the cabinet he spoke with Amin on the phone many times, attempting to obtain the release of the hostages without success.^[13][14] The Cabinet of Israel is a formal body comprised of government officials chosen and led by a Prime Minister. ...

Declassified British documents

In June 2007, a UK government file on the crisis, released from the National Archives, contained a claim that Israel was behind the hijacking.^[15] According to press accounts, an unnamed informant from the Euro-Arab Parliamentary Association told a British diplomat in Paris that the Israeli Secret Services and a Palestinian terrrorist group, the PFLP, acted together to seize the plane. The context of this conspiracy theory was that the Israeli domestic security agency, Shin Bet, helped design the operation to undermine the PLO's standing in France and its rapprochement with the USA. For other uses, see Conspiracy theory (disambiguation). ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not include all significant viewpoints. ... The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (Arabic: ;   or Munazzamat al-Tahrir al-Filastiniyyah) is a multi-party confederation and is the organization regarded since 1974 as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. ...

The report on this claim was written by David Colvin, First Secretary of the Paris Embassy on 30 June 1976, a day after the contact telephoned him and while the crisis was still playing out.^[15][16] Colvin did not offer the allegation as factual or comment on its credibility; nor did he provide a transcript of the conversation he had with the informant. The absence of specific details supporting the allegation have led to the belief that this conspiracy theory was a deliberate act of disinformation.^[17] is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Disinformation (disambiguation). ...

Another released document discusses British reticence to congratulate the Israelis based on a question of the operation's legality, which would be contingent on Ugandan collusion, and the public criticism that ensued. One of the draft documents addresses the question of legality, concluding that Amin's government had been in collaboration with the hijackers.^[15]

Israel has firmly denied the contact's claim about Israeli involvement,^[18] with officials in the Vice Premier's office calling it "foolishness" and "not worthy of comment."^[19] No known U.K. government sources confirm the findings of this one source.

Aftermath

The government of Uganda later convened a session of the United Nations Security Council to seek official condemnation of the Israeli raid,^[20] as a violation of Ugandan sovereignty. The Security Council ultimately declined to pass any resolution on the matter. In his address to the Council, the Israeli ambassador Chaim Herzog said: This article needs cleanup. ... “Security Council” redirects here. ... “Sovereign” redirects here. ... Chaim Herzog (‎, born Vivian Herzog, September 17, 1918 – April 17, 1997) served as the sixth President of Israel (1983–1993), following a distinguished career in both the British Army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). ...

We come with a simple message to the Council: we are proud of what we have done because we have demonstrated to the world that a small country, in Israel's circumstances, with which the members of this Council are by now all too familiar, the dignity of man, human life and human freedom constitute the highest values. We are proud not only because we have saved the lives of over a hundred innocent people—men, women and children—but because of the significance of our act for the cause of human freedom.^[21][22]

—HERZOG, Chaim.

For refusing to depart when given leave to do so by the hijackers, Captain Bacos was reprimanded by his superiors at Air France and suspended from duty for a period.^[23]

The popularity of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin soared in Israel for authorizing the successful rescue, though it was not enough to prevent his Labour government from being voted out of office a year later.^{[citation needed]} For other persons named Rabin, see Rabin (disambiguation). ...

Dramatisations

The incident was the subject of several films, two of which were U.S. productions with American/British casts; a third was produced in Israel with mostly Israeli actors in the key roles. The hijacking of Air France Flight AF139 and the subsequent rescue mission is featured in the documentary Operation Thunderbolt: Entebbe.^[24]

• Victory At Entebbe (1976): with Anthony Hopkins, Burt Lancaster, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Dreyfuss, Director: Marvin J. Chomsky
• Raid On Entebbe (1977): with Peter Finch, Horst Buchholz, Charles Bronson, Yaphet Kotto, and James Woods, Director: Irvin Kershner, Producer: Edgar J. Scherick
• Mivtsa Yonatan (English title: Operation Thunderbolt) (1977): Israeli Yehoram Gaon played Col. Netanyahu, Austrian Sybil Danning and German Klaus Kinski played the hijackers. Director: Menahem Golan, Movie theme song: 'Eretz Hatzvi' ("Land of Deer") performed by Yehoram Gaon
• Operation Thunderbolt: Entebbe (2000): The Delta Force (1986) is a fictional story strongly patterned after Operation Entebbe.
• The Global Operations computer game has a level loosely based on the Raid on Entebbe.
• The incident was also featured in Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1980) and The Last King of Scotland (2006).

Victory at Entebbe is a film made for television from 1976 based on an actual event: Operation Entebbe and the freeing of hostages at Entebbe Airport in Kampala, Uganda on July 4, 1976. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the composer, see Antony Hopkins. ... Burt Lancaster (2 November 1913 – 20 October 1994) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor, noted for his athletic physique, distinct smile (which he called The Grin) and, later, his willingness to play roles that went against his initial tough guy image. ... For other persons named Elizabeth Taylor, see Elizabeth Taylor (disambiguation). ... Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (born October 29, 1947) is an Academy Award-winning American actor. ... Raid on Entebbe is a 1977 TV movie directed by Irvin Kershner. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Peter Finch (September 28, 1912 – January 14, 1977) was an English-born actor with strong Australian connections. ... Horst Werner Buchholz (December 4, 1933 – March 3, 2003) was a German actor, best remembered for his part in The Magnificent Seven. ... For other persons named Charles Bronson, see Charles Bronson (disambiguation). ... Prince Yaphet Frederick Kotto (born November 15, 1937) is an American actor. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Irvin Kershner (born April 29, 1923) is an American film director born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Edgar J. Scherick (October 24, 1924 – December 2, 2002) was one of the most prolific producers of television miniseries, made-for-television films, and theatrical motion pictures. ... Mivtsa Yonatan (English title: Operation Thunderbolt) is a Israeli film from 1977 based on an actual event: Operation Entebbe and the freeing of hostages at Entebbe Airport in Kampala, Uganda on July 4, 1976. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Yehoram Gaon, informally spelled Yoram Gaon (born December 28, 1939) is an Israeli singer and actor. ... Sybil Danning (born May 24, 1947) is an Austrian actress known for her many roles in B-movies, science fiction films, and action movies. ... Klaus Kinski (October 18, 1926 – November 23, 1991) was a German actor, famous for his ability to project onscreen intensity, and for his explosive temperament. ... Menahem Golan is an Israeli director/producer who is most famous (or infamous) for his association with Cannon films, a company he ran with his cousin Yoram Globus. ... Yehoram Gaon, informally spelled Yoram Gaon (born December 28, 1939) is an Israeli singer and actor. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The Delta Force is a 1986 action film starring Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as leaders of an elite squad of special forces troops based on the real life U.S. Army Delta Force unit. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Global Operations is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Barking Dog Studios and published by both Crave Entertainment and Electronic Arts. ... Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, also known as Amin: The Rise and Fall, is a bloody exploitation film and biopic directed in 1980 by Sharad Patel and starring Joseph Olita as Idi Amin. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... For the novel, see The Last King of Scotland. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Notes

Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper, and the Hebrew Israel news portal, Ynet. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli newspaper in the English language. ... Belligerents Israel PFLP Revolutionäre Zellen Uganda Commanders Yekutiel Kuti Adam Dan Shomron Yonatan Netanyahu† Moshe Muki Betser Wadie Haddad Wilfried Böse† Idi Amin Strength Approximately 100 Commandos, plus air crew and support personnel Unknown Casualties and losses Yonatan Netanyahu killed 5 commandos wounded 7 hijackers killed 45 Ugandan... Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s most-read newspaper, and the Hebrew Israel news portal, Ynet. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Arutz Sheva (Channel Seven) is a right-wing Israeli online media network identifying with Religious Zionism. ...

References

• Hastings, Max. Yoni, Hero of Entebbe Bantam Doubleday Dell Publ., 1979. ISBN 0-385-27127-1
• Netanyahu, Iddo. Yoni's Last Battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976, Gefen Books. ISBN 965-229-283-4
• Netanyahu, Iddo. Entebbe: A Defining Moment in the War on Terrorism: The Jonathan Netanyahu Story, New Leaf Press, 2003. ISBN 0-89221-553-4
• Netanyahu, Jonathan / Netanyahu, Benjamin / Netanyahu, Iddo. Self-Portrait of a Hero: From the Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu, 1963-1976, Warner Books, 1998. ISBN 0-446-67461-3
• Netanyahu, Jonathan. The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu, Gefen Books, 2001. ISBN 965-229-267-2
• Stevenson, William . Ninety Minutes at Entebbe, Bantam Books, 1976. ISBN 0-553-10482-9
• Richler, Mordecai. Solomon Gursky Was Here, Penguin Books, 1989, pp. 539–41. ISBN 0-14-011608-7

See also

• List of hostage crises
• Operation Opera
• Operation Wooden Leg, the Israeli Air Force raid on Tunisia.
• Wadie Haddad
• Aspen Movie Map — a project whose funding came about because of Operation Entebbe

This is a list of hostage crises by date. ... Combatants Israel Iraq Strength 8 F-16A fighters 6 F-15A fighters Unknown numbers of radar and Anti-aircraft artillery Casualties None 10 Iraqi soldiers and 1 French researcher killed Operation Opera (also known as Operation Babylon and Operation Ofra) was an Israeli air strike against the Iraqi Osirak nuclear... Operation Wooden Leg was the October 1, 1985 Israeli Air Force raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organizations headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia. ... Wadie Haddad (1927–1978), a. ... The Aspen Movie Map was a revolutionary hypermedia system developed at MIT by a team working with Andrew Lippman in 1978 with funding from ARPA. // Features The Aspen Movie Map allowed the user to take a virtual tour through the city of Aspen, Colorado. ...

External links

• isayeret.com - The Israeli Special Forces Database
• BBC Article and Videos - 4 July 1976: Israelis rescue Entebbe hostages (BBC)
• BBC: 30th anniversary of the raid on Entebbe