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Daring rescue underscored Israeli vow to fight terrorism by Ralph Daniels Ten years ago on July 4, 1976, the United States of America cele brated its bicentennial. Yet, even the Americans who had all their attention focused inward on this momentous occasion were com pelled to look up and take notice of another event which took place thousands of miles away on the continent of Africa. Entebbe. On June 27, 1976, Air France flight No. 139 had stopped over in Athens on its way from Tel Aviv to Paris. Two Germans and two Arabs boarded the plane with pistols and grenades they had smuggled through security. They hijacked the plane and, after a fuel stop in time for such a complicated mis sion but the deadline given by the terrorists for the fulfillment of their demands was fast approaching. Since it had become clear that the Ugandans were actively assist ing the terrorists, the Israelis real ized that they would have to take steps to neutralize not only the Ugandan ground forces in the vi cinity of the airport, but also the Soviet-made MIG fighter-jets be longing to the Ugandan Air Force. While the Israelis were in the midst of their preparations, the terrorists had meanwhile released all the non-Jewish passengers so that only Israeli nationals and other passengers of the Jewish faith re mained. To their credit, the cap We all know the gratifying results of the Entebbe Operation, recorded for posterity by several feature films and documentaries. Even Israel’s enemies in the world must have felt a secret admiration at this daring enterprise which caught the imagination of a world oftentimes helpless to combat the deadly bacillus of terrorism.’ Libya, proceeded to Entebbe air port in Uganda where the hijackers were welcomed with open arms by Idi Amin and reinforced by the addition of three more Arab ter rorists. On the night of July 3-4, 1976, Israeli disgorged their cargo of crack commando and paratroop units on the runway of Entebbe airport. The Israelis had first pre pared a mock-up of the Old Ter minal at Entebbe where the re maining hostages from the hijacked Air France passenger jet were now being guarded by their PFLP cap- tors. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is one of the main elements making up the Palestine Liberation Organization (PL.O). The Israeli troops that were to take part in the rescue mission rehearsed their plan for taking control of the Old Terminal and eliminating the kidnappers. These exercises began on Friday after noon, July 2. Not much practice tain and crew of the Air France jet refused to abandon the remaining hostages. This “selektion” was reminiscent of the process which occurred in the Nazi death camps of Europe where Jews when told to disembark their cattle cars to the left went straight to the gas cham bers; while those who were directed to the right had their horrible fate at least postponed while the Nazis utilized their bodies for labor or experiments. This action on the part of the terrorists made it absolutely clear that the only recourse left to Israel was to fulfill her responsibility to her citizens and fellow Jews by attempting a near impossible rescue mission. We all know the gratifying results of the Entebbe Operation, recorded for posterity by several feature films and documentaries. Even Is rael’s enemies in the world must have felt a secret admiration at this daring enterprise which caught the imagination of a world oftentimes JAGUAR J “Over 35 Years Experience 99 offer all my new Jaguar customers... • p ree loaner while your new Troncalli Jaguar is serviced • 4 years free oil changes (limit 12) • Saturday Service • 24-hour emergency road service • Over 35 years experience at Atlanta's oldest Jaguar dealer Nobody but nobody ever underleases or undersells me! U Wl i wii■ i 1625 Church St.. Decatur, GA 30033 helpless to combat the deadly bacillus of terrorism. Of course, the Entebbe Opera tion had a cost attached to it. Three hostages died before the rescue operation was completed. Just be fore the evacuation of the rescued hostages was completed, the com mander of the Israeli force. Col. Jonathan Netanyahu, was mortally wounded in the back by a Ugandan soldier. He was the only Israeli soldier to die at Entebbe. In the euphoria of the moment, many people thought the tide had been turned against terrorism. Un fortunately, this was not to be the case. Israel’s enemies railed against what they called the infringement of Uganda’s national sovereignty. These countries, many of which (such as Libya and Syria) had been guilty in the past of incidents of state-sponsored terrorism (and still commit them today), want to use international law to protect them selves from the just retribution of the international community. They want to enjoy the fruits of interna tional law without themselves being bound by it. It is high time for all the coun tries of the world to ban together and cooperate in the fight against terrorism. Nearly all the countries of the world suffer the ravages of ter rorism. It is not something just endemic to the Arab-Israeli con flict. There are terrorist acts car ried out by Arabs against other Arabs, gangs such as the Red Bri gades in Italy, the Basque separa tists in Spain and the IRA in Northern Ireland. Even the com munist regime in Yugoslavia has problems with Croatian terrorists. We must not only stop allowing terrorists to intimidate innocent civilians, but it is equally impor tant to take steps against those countries which sponsor or actively assist terrorist acts. The laws, set up by the international community to protect itself, must not be per mitted to protect the perpetrators of such atrocities. Ralph Daniels is the informa tion officer at the Israeli Consulate General in Atlanta. Irving Silver Salesman of the Year 1985 Fleet Manager Sales & Leasing Personal sales of over $ 51,000,000 Days: 292*3853 Night:391*9587 2SZS?S2S?S?S?5252S2S2S2S2S25ZS2S2525252S2S252S2S2SZS2& The Royal Treatment Banquet room available for large parties. Private Party rooms also available. Reservations on parties of six or more. "Fast take out service” AUTHENTIC MANDARIN AND SZECHUAN CUISINE EMPRESS of CM IN A M 4251 North Peachtree Rd., ('/, mi. inside 1-285, exit 22) CHAMBLEE 451-1216 l i^S2S2S2SES2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2S2SZSZS2SZS2S(tS2S2SJ52S2SZS2SiS2S2SZS2S2SES2iO A July 1 - July 15, 1986 Mon thru Sat 10-7 Sun 1 - 6 OUR LEASE IS UP SO WE RE CLOSING DOWN for the best selection shop early at Someone's in the Kitchen GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE Save Up to 75% WE WILL MISS YOU THANK YOU FOR FIVE YEARS OF SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP SOMEONE'S IN THE KITCHEN 210 PHARR ROAD - BUCKHEAD 237-0294 Jr % Vi Price Sale Now in Progress Sale at ALL 4 STORES Buckhead 233-6759 3047 Peachtree Rd. Sandy Springs Plaza 255-6224 6261 Roswell Rd. Roswell Village 993-7003 at Holcomb Br., Rd. (Roswell) Perimeter Mall 399-6607 Upper Level (New Section) PAGE 7 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE July 4, 1986