On Independence Day / Entebbe Rescue anniversary- Netanyahu & filmmakers on what Americans and Israelis share

On America's 200th birthday in 1976, Benjamin Netanyahu's IDF officer brother, Yonatan, helped lead a mission to to rescue 105 Israelis kidnapped and being held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Bibi drove from Boston to tell his father Bentzion, teaching in Ithaca, NY, that Yoni had been killed leading that rescue mission. On July 1st, 2016, Prime Minister Netanyahu gave this address at the US Ambassador to Israel's residence, prior to flying to Uganda, where Idi Amin's son Jaffar welcomed Anat Shomron Bukai, the only daughter of Dan Shomron, who commanded Operation Thunderbolt.

Debbie Schlussel, Zionist blogger and film critic, characterizes Israel's July 4th 1976 raid on the Entebbe Airport in her Israel’s Raid on Entebbe, 40 Years Ago Today – Defeat of Jihadists. 

"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. 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. 

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 elderly 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." Read more of  Israel’s Raid on Entebbe, 40 Years Ago Today – Defeat of Jihadists. 

At the L.A. Jewish Film Festival screening of  a biography of Cannon Films director Menachem Golan, Austrian actress, Sybil Danning, relates how she managed to get Germans to finance Menachem Golan's hoped-for, Hebrew-language dramatization of Operation Thunderbolt, "Mivtza Yonatan," depicting the Netanyahu brother's frontline role in the Entebbe rescue mission.


Watch "Operation Thunderbolt" ("Mivtza Yonatan" in Hebrew) featuring Klaus Kinski and Sybil Danning, produced by Yoram Globus, directed by Menachem Golan.  


(Click Settings cog to activate subtitles in English).

"Golan: A Farewell to Mr. Cinema- L.A. Premiere Documentary, UK/Israel, directed by Christopher Sykes

This film is the final chapter in the extraordinary life and career of Menahem Golan, Israeli movie director, producer, mogul and madman. Golan and his cousin Yoram Globus, pursued the American Dream and turned the Hollywood power structure upside down, producing over 300 films and becoming the most powerful independent film company in the world; Cannon Films. Golan produced movies featuring such stars as Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson. In his eighties and living in Jaffa, Golan looks back to his great days in Hollywood, forward to a new blockbuster, and dreams of the Oscar he has always wanted.


Sybil Danning and assistant director, Sam Firstenberg discuss life with legendary Israeli director Menachem Golan at the "Golan" documentary, post-screening at Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival in May, 2016.

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, pays tribute to America on Independence Day; reminds Americans that Israel is "steadfast ally and friend" and that it is "American power (which) ultimately keeps the enemies of freedom at bay"

PM Netanyahu spoke on July 1st at the American Ambassador James Cunningham's residence in Israel in honor of U.S. Independence Day.

"Our (the Jewish people's) tragedy is that the U.S. did not dominate the first half of the 20th century. And what a difference the rise of America has made in rolling back totalitarian forces and standing up for liberty. And now, at the first half of the 21st century, the U.S. is still entrusted with the difficult task of defending freedom and defending peace. American power still ultimately keeps the enemies of freedom at bay. Netanyahu quotes Pres. Abraham Lincoln who remarked: "The United States is the last, best hope on earth."

He continued, "The intervening century and a half has confirmed that analysis. The Jewish State in particular owes a great debt of appreciation and gratitude to the United States. For decades, the U.S. has helped Israel meet the enormous challenges we face. It has helped us bear the heavy burdens of our defense. It has helped us feel secure enough to take risks for peace. It has helped us negotiate that peace and then make practical arrangements to cement it on the ground.

Israel, in turn, has proved to be America's steadfast ally. A friend and an ally. We fight common enemies. We uphold common values - deeply shared by our people and our societies."



Netanyhu calls upon Palestinian Pres. Abbas to meet him face to face to begin direct peace negotiations. "I am ready to meet him any time and any place."

On behalf of the citizens of Israel I wish you Mr Ambassador- Jim (Cunningham), Pres. Obama and the American people a wonderful Independence Day!"



This video shows last year's reception at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. It includes remarks from Ambassador Cunningham. "While our histories are different, America and Israel have much in common. Our shared values and commitment to democracy (and) the rule of law bind us together."

P.M. Netanyahu concluded, "A friendship anchored not in transitory interests, but in eternal values and timeless ideals. These common ideals of liberty and democracy are the foundation of the deep and enduring bond between the U.S. and Israel. Happy Independence Day, America, and may G-d continue to bless America and our profound friendship."