By H. Applebaum
SAN DIEGO — Most of us are not familiar with the name Michel Bacos, yet he should be known to all Jews. I didn’t know his name until I read that he died a few days ago, and I am ashamed that I didn’t remember the hero of Entebbe, the Righteous Gentile who threw in his lot with 103 Jews who were held hostage by Palestinian and German terrorists in 1976.
Michel Bacos was the pilot of the Air France plane that was hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda. There, as a horrified world looked on helplessly, Jewish passengers were systematically separated out, in a process eerily similar to the Nazi’s “selection” in the concentration camps. The terrorists, machine guns trained on the hostages, threatened to kill all of them if their demands were not met. Non-Jewish passengers and crew were freed, but Captain Bacos chose to remain, and his crew followed suit.
While the world stood by wringing its hands, and some countries even denied air space to the Israeli planes that ultimately rescued the hostages, Michel Bacos risked his life to stand up to terrorism. He personified the French ideals of “Egalite and Fraternite,” as he had years before, when the Nazis invaded France. Then, too, most chose the easy, cowardly way, and cooperated and collaborated with the Nazis. Bacos, however, left France, and fought with DeGaulle and the free French.
Bacos epitomized what was best about France, but unfortunately, as attacks against Jewish supermarkets, cafes, and schools have become increasingly frequent, France has not been at its best. On March 19th, seven years ago, the Islamic terrorist, Mohammed Merah, massacred a rabbi and three young children in Toulouse. Merah was celebrated as a hero in the Muslim community, and the Deputy Mayor of Toulouse told Jews not to wear any outward sign of their identity because he couldn’t guarantee their safety. Since then, 600 Jewish families left. Perhaps if their fellow Frenchmen stood up for them, as Bacos did, they would have stayed.
The mass migration of Africans from former French colonies brought with it traditional Muslim hatreds. French Jews no longer feel secure in the country many have lived in for generations, and now, latent anti-semitism is emerging from native Frenchmen, as seen in the recent yellow-vest demonstrations.
Anti-Semitic incidents in France increased 74% last year, and French Jews, many with established, comfortable lives, are leaving in unprecedented numbers. They have been terrorized because France is failing to protect them.
If the French followed the example of Michel Bacos, they would make common cause with the Jewish community. They would take stronger measures to eliminate the threatening atmosphere in which French Jews are now forced to live.
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Applebaum is a freelance writer based in San Diego.