Kampala- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday described his country’s clinical mission to rescue the 103 nationals who had been held hostage at Entebbe airport in 1976 as a “watershed moment” that taught his people a lesson of fighting back and protecting themselves.
Mr Netanyahu, who was in the country for a day’s visit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of this mission often referred to as the ‘Raid on Entebbe’ in which his brother, Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu, was shot dead by a Ugandan soldier, said it was not only an “emotional privilege” but also a new chapter in the Israel-Africa relations.
“Forty years ago, a group of Israeli commandos landed in the dead of the night in a country led by a brutal dictator on a rescue mission. Today, we land in the light of the day in a country led by friendly president,” he said.
Israeli delegation
Mr Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara Netanyahu and a group of about 100 military officials touched down at about 1:40pm at the old Entebbe airport; where 40 years ago on the same day, an elite squad commanded by his elder brother Yoni Netanyahu attacked on a rescue mission.
Yoni was the lone casualty in the group. The mission has since been christened “Operation Yonatan.”
Also accompanying him were the surviving members of the elite squad that raided Entebbe and select hostages who were rescued that day.
In his speech, Mr Netanyahu commended Uganda’s efforts in the fight against terrorism and vowed to contribute to these efforts, also promising to help other African countries.
“When terrorism succeeds in one place it thrives everywhere. When it is defeated somewhere it is defeated everywhere.”
He said the raid on Entebbe “delivered a devastating blow to the spirits of terrorism” and vowed that the fight will continue guided by two principles -clarity, to distinguish between good and evil and courage, to fight.
“We must condemn all acts of terrorism everywhere, whether in Paris, San Bernado, Orlando or Nairobi.”
He later met select African presidents, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Malawi’s Peter Mutharika and the Ethiopian premier Hailemariam Desalegn.
He said the visit, the first by an Israeli premier on the continent in 30 years, marked a new page in relations saying that “Israel is coming to Africa, and Africa is coming to Israel”.
The celebration of the anniversary was attended by several government dignitaries, Ugandan military officials, select members of the Jewish community in the country and members of the Diplomatic Corp.
President Museveni used the moment to talk tough promising to double the efforts in the fight against terrorism but also set the record straight that he supports Israel living side by side and in harmony with her arch rival Palestine.
It was, however ,not clear why the President repeatedly referred to Palestine.
In his opening remarks using political and biblical facets, President Museveni dwelt a lot on the bond between Palestine and Uganda/ Africa which caused some discomfort among the visitors.
In the presence of his guest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his delegation and the top brass of the Ugandan government, Mr Museveni also advanced a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict saying Uganda’s view is guided by the Bible and cannot accept “bigotry” which holds that “either of you [Palestine or Israel] does not belong in that area.”
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