Without a doubt, one of the events in the history of Israel that really stand out is the raid by the IDF at Entebbe, Uganda in 1976. Though the terrorist events of recent times pales by comparison, at this time in history, it was the PLO and its off-shoots that were the cause of a rash of airliner hi-jackings. The prime purpose of these events was to have those terrorists in foreign jails freed in exchange for the passengers of these airlines. Often, flights into Israel were targeted as the PLO was bound and determined to do what it could to cause Israelis to suffer.

These aircraft were often flown into nearby countries sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and this put them close to the Israelis, allowing the IDF to get involved in the freeing of the hostages and killing or capturing of the terrorists involved. The Entebbe deal was different. In Uganda the PLO found a sympathetic leader, the madman Idi Amin, and so when an Air France Airbus was hijacked, it was flown to Entebbe in Uganda where it was hoped that it would be safe from IDF interference. Upon landing, the passengers and crew were all taken to a no longer used old terminal building and kept under conditions that can only be described as squalor. Eventually, all the non-Jewish passengers were released, leaving a few more than 100 people held in captivity

All of this sent the Israeli cabinet into a panic. There was a real possibility that the government would have to capitulate to the demands of the terrorists in terms of freeing those they held in prison and paying a ransom as well. Meanwhile, members of the IDF began planning for a raid to free the captives while the rest of the government decided what to do. Eventually an audacious plan that involved four C-130 transports along with troops and equipment evolved. It all depended on the element of surprise and the hopes that the Ugandans would never suspect the IDF of performing such a long-range rescue mission. It even included the use of a Mercedes limo painted to look like the car used by Amin to get the first troops close enough to kill those holding the hostages.

It is infrequent that your reviewer runs across a book that can truly be called riveting. Yet this one kept me reading into the small hours of the morning. Author Simon Dunstan has provided an excellent edition to this series. His research is top notch and the small sideline notes really add quite a bit to the tale. There are superb photos of the men and equipment involved as well as Osprey's fine 3D maps that help to clarify how the operation proceeded.

The result is a book that I can easily give my highest recommendation.

December 2009

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