JAFFA, Israel (Pres Release) — On the 45th anniversary of Operation Entebbe, this morning, (Tuesday) the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation held a moving and insightful meeting revealing testimonies never before heard, from the behind the scenes of one of the most ingenious and daring rescue operations the world has ever known, overseen at the time by then Defense Minister, Shimon Peres.
The exhibition about Operation Entebbe is on display at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and includes videos, rare photos, and original notes in the handwriting of Defense Minister Shimon Peres to then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, affording a rare glimpse into those critical hours.
Commenting on the opening of the exhibition, Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister, Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff, said: “Operation Entebbe is an operation that took place over a week across three continents. We sat until early in the morning to analyze the possibilities, with zero information. We realized that the key was the element of complete surprise against the terrorists so we could eliminate them. The exhibition reflects this tension and stress.”
He added, “There was a lot of cooperation within the military echelon and at the political level there was great tension between Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres over whether or not to negotiate. It was a very difficult decision and that was Yitzhak’s leaning. At the military level there was a sense of belief in acting with discretion and the ability to adjust quickly between what was happening and what was possible. But it would not have been possible without the political leadership, and the great responsibility that was on Shimon and Yitzhak.”
Professor Zivia Walden, Shimon Peres’ daughter, spoke frankly about those days, and said, “There was rivalry between our fathers and it is no secret, but in the national mission there was agreement between them. They put behind them the difficult years and their togetherness led them to unbelievable success, when combining forces to reach great achievements.”
Daughter of late Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, Dalia Rabin, spoke about the meaning and importance of unity and courage then and today. She said, “My father said in the Knesset that this was an operation of Jewish brotherhood and Israeli courage. This is just as relevant a statement today about the Jewish cause and the Israeli cause, and the connection between brotherhood and bravery.”
Zvi Har Nevo was a senior pilot in the Air Force on the leading plane in the Operation. He said, “We did not get permission to carry out the operation until after we were in the air. The task was far from easy, and we flew at a very low altitude and on unconventional flight paths.”
Ilan Moreno, the son of Ninet Moreno whose drawings helped make the operation a success, spoke emotionally about the event, and said, “What characterizes her contribution are the things she wrote down in her diary, especially the most important detail that the Ugandans embraced the terrorists. Another of my mother’s contributions were the sketches she made in her diary which showed the terrorists’ locations – those who were guarding the Israelis and those who were guarding the others.”
Shai Gross, the youngest of those kidnapped then just 6 years old, told how, “On Saturday night we went to sleep. The French pilot told the parents that if anything were to happen, to run together, straight to the secretary’s office. We ran there and they covered me with mattresses and said “Shema Yisrael”. We did not know what was happening, we heard shots. After a few minutes, Dad opened the door and in front of him stood an Israeli soldier with a rifle. My father shouted “Israel, Israel!” And that’s what saved us. The soldier picked me up in his arms.”
Tzipi Gonen, who was 8 years old at the time, said, “At Entebbe we lost my father, that was our price. For years I did not speak or deal with Entebbe. In recent years, I have been in contact with a group of abducted children, and with Surin Hershko (a paratrooper who was seriously wounded in the operation) who has become a new father to me.”
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Preceding provided by the Peres Center for Peace