The Entebbe Raid—
From the Video: In 1976 the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacked a commercial airplane heading to France from Israel. They took the plane to Entebbe Airport in Uganda where they separated all the Jewish and Israeli passengers and threatened to kill them if Israel did not give in to their demands. Israel sent in a secret undercover unit into the airport where they shot up the terrorists and freed the prisoners. The surprise rescue mission was led by Lieutenant Yoni Netanyahu, the only soldier killed during the mission. The success of the mission called Operation Thunderbolt lead to books and movie being made of the rescue and Yoni Netanyahu’s being hailed as a hero.
Today Yoni Netanyahu‘s brother Benjamin Netanyahu is Prime Minister of Israel.
But there’s more to the story.
Elizabeth Taylor in “Victory at Entebbe”
Israel Matzav dug up this forgotten and courageous act by Elizabeth Taylor.
The top Hollywood starlet offered herself to be exchanged for the Jewish hostages at Entebbe.
Elizabeth Taylor Offered to Be Hostage, Dinitz Discloses
June 16, 1977
LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Movie actress Elizabeth Taylor offered herself as a hostage for the more than 100 Air France hijack victims held by terrorists at Entebbe Airport in Uganda during the tense days before the Israeli rescue raid last July 4. That disclosure was made here by Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Simcha Dinitz, at a Jewish National Fund gala honoring Ms. Taylor and her husband, John W. Warner, for their devotion to the land reclamation work of the JNF and other humanitarian causes.
There’s more…
Elizabeth Taylor later starred with Kirk Douglas in the film “Victory at Entebbe” on the historic raid. There were three films made on the heroic Entebbe raid. This was the first.
Victory at Entebbe
Obviously, Elizabeth Taylor was much more than just a beautiful Hollywood actress.
She will be dearly missed.
