Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport, the Most Audacious Hostage Rescue Mission in History

In military annals, few countries have achieved as many accomplishments in special warfare and intelligence-craft as has Israel. The Israelis have pulled off some stunning coups in the few decades of its existence and - of those - few have garnered more attention than the 1976 Entebbe hostage rescue. Saul David's "Operation Thunderbolt" is a compelling recounting of the event, adding considerable details of planning and execution to the existing record.As is universally known, Israel has been locked in struggle with its numerous adversaries since the May, 1948 declaration of statehood. Of course, hostilities long preceded that event, but the nascent Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were able to preserve the state. The 1949 armistice lines de facto established its borders for many years. In 1964, disorganized and disparate irregular warfare groups were gathered under the aegis of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), this in an effort to improve military prospects against the highly accomplished IDF.The PLO and various splinter factions eventually recognized that isolated armed action was only a component of a successful campaign: novelty and publicity were needed. To achieve that end, airline hijacking became a favored tactic in service of the larger goal of "defeating" Israel (however that may be defined). One sub-splinter group acting under the authority of Wadie Hadad acted in concert with a German extremist faction, the "Revolutionary Cells" and together, members of both groups hijacked an Air France jet and eventually landed it in Entebbe, Uganda. On the ground, they were warmly received by Idi Amin Dada, "Field Marshall" and state leader who actively collaborated in the affair from its inception.Confronted with a determined terrorist group sheltered and abetted in a distant, hostile country, the Israelis reacted to the threatened murder of a significant subset of passengers (namely, the Jewish/Israeli component plus the air crew) by planning negotiations for a hostage exchange: there was no other reasonable option. Yet, almost alone, Defense Minister Shimon Peres thought otherwise. Peres, even though not a professional soldier, advocated strongly for military action. He did this against the concerted, hostile opposition of Prime Minister Rabin, a man with military background. The conflicts between these two men, played out over the very short timeline until the hijackers' ultimatum expired, comprises a significant portion of David's book.Elements of the IDF, devised several plans. These were vetted and abandoned for various reasons, all carefully explained in "Thunderbolt". Only one option seemed reasonable: a flight of transport planes carrying a small number of commandos would attack the Old Terminal at Entebbe in a surprise raid. Fortunately, much intelligence on the Entebbe airport was available to the Israelis. Idi Amin was a former Israeli ally, one who proudly wore IAF paratrooper wings, despite not having earned them. Old architectural plans for the Israeli-built terminal were updated with current intelligence as conveyed by released hostages and limited air photography. Based on limited data and Peres' relentless advocacy, the Israeli cabinet approved the operation. As is well known, it was a success: two hostages died (at least one by "friendly fire") and one commando was killed (Yoni Netanyahu, brother of the current Israeli Prime Minister).The book reads quickly, especially the operational sections. It is well supplemented with maps and attack plans. The logistical, intelligence, planning and deliberative details are all clearly and compellingly explained.The major shortcoming of the book is the extensive "imagined dialogue". For example, Yoni Netanyahu's interior monologue added the too detailed recitation of trivial recollections and irrelevant stories from inconsequential captives detract from the main story. The concluding chapter contains interesting interview information from a surviving member of the Revolutionary Cells and provides contextual detail on the collaboration. A particularly interesting section on the disillusionment of many German extreme leftists (extracted from Paul Berman's book) with the entire "anti-Zionist" enterprise.Of course, the struggle goes on. The anti-Israeli terrorism palette no longer includes airline hijackings and the terrorists are no longer secular Marxist-Leninists. Nowadays, they are Islamists and generally disregard whatever moral constraints their predecessors exercised with respect to civilian mass casualties. Nonetheless, and as David notes, the Entebbe raid set a paradigm most countries attempt to follow: special forces raids to free hostages, destroy terrorist targets and deter by that tactic. Whether or not that approach works as part of a larger strategy is debatable, and it's not part of this book. The reference standard remains the Israeli approach and, as might be said in the Shona dialect, "Pamwe Chete": all together, at least as pertains to Western special forces and terrorists and Israel commandos lead the way.

The year is 1976. An air France plane with 248 passengers has been hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists. The aircraft has been landed in Entebbe, Uganda (over 2500 miles from Israel) where tyrant Idi Amin offers sanctuary to the terrorists.Their demands: release of 40 Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons, and an additional few from other free nations. Or else.What would you do? Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is in a bind, as there is understandable pressure on him from the families of the loved ones held captive in an airport terminal in Uganda. Does he negotiate with the terrorists, acquiescing to their demands? Or does he look into riskier options?Giving into the terrorists will undoubtedly cause Israel’s national prestige to plummet—as well as encourage more hijackings in the future. Release of deadly terrorists from prisons will almost guarantee more loss of life in the future. For statesman Shimon Peres there is only one option. “If we give into the terrorists, not even the faintest memory of us will remain.”Operation Thunderbolt is a brilliantly written narrative of the 1976 hijacking and the famous Special Forces raid that followed. It follows closely the personal accounts of passengers on the Air France plane, ministers of Israeli Defense, soldiers of the Unit, as well as many other global figures--giving the reader an incredible behind the scenes look as the drama unfolds.The book as a whole is: unbelievably tense, overwhelmingly tragic, absolutely immense. A truly enjoyable read.

As an American follower of Israeli history and politics, this book did not disappoint. Very similar to the excellent "Six Days of War" by Michael Oren, this follows all aspects of the hijacking and rescue mission from all sides, including the Israeli government, the captives, a Kenyan government official, the French, British and others. I knew the bullet points of the story (that there was a rescue, that a future politician's brother was killed) but I was amazed at the audacity of the rescue mission and the politics that went into launching.This book is the definitive work on this event. You'll feel as if you're part of the captives, suffering through their separation by nationality, their intestinal distress and the horror (and then relief) from the rescue. You'll see the tough debates had within the Israeli government about whether to negotiate or use the military options (and some of the other military options not used, including one involving 1000 soldiers).A must read.

Excellent book, very readable, a real page turner. I had trouble putting it down, it is a incredible account of the most successful raid in modern recorded history,, pulled off with an extremely small preparatory window and with limited resources. A volume of significance in that it gives you and incredible amount of detail from various perspectives with a concept of what the world was like at the time of the events. While the United States has been at War on Terror since 9/11 the Nation of Israel has been at War against Terrorism since it's inception. Exceptional book about an exceptional operation, conducted under extraordinarily difficult odds by an extraordinarily determined and gifted people.

I have read a couple of other books about Operation Thunderbolt but this is by far the best one. Very well-researched, incredibly detailed and thoroughly gripping throughout, this book is a must for anybody interested in Israeli military history or indeed, world history itself. Aside from the events leading up to Operation Thunderbolt, the immediate and long-term aftermath and effects of the raid are also covered in some detail which rounds off the story very nicely, emphasizing that, while Israel pulled off a most remarkable feat, the worldwide repercussions of it would be felt both positively and negatively for years to come.

Another brilliant narrative history from an author that has written some outstanding histories.I first came across his wonderful history of the Indian Mutiny some years back and since then look forward to his books as they come out.This book is no exception. It's very detailed -the hijacking and political machinations leading upto the planning and rescue of the hostages is very thoroughly covered.However this does not detract from the smooth flow of the narrative.The human aspect remains the main focus regardless of whether they are hostages ,politicians,terrorists or special forces soldiers.Without a doubt one of the best books (if not the best) on the subject of the Entebbe Raid.

Written in real time, the narrative switches between all main locations applicable to the situation .Reveals the inner thoughts and actions of hostages,Israeli government, and security departmentsThe actions of the terrorists are outlined with all the tension that they created.In summary it reads like a great fictional thriller but it is all fact which makes it all so readable and interesting.I recommend it to fiction lovers and non fiction lovers.Both palates will be satisfied with its' content.

Can't put down, partly because you would lose track of all the characters and their names. Well written by means of alternativel chapters covering what is happening to the hostages and, at the same time, what is happening in Israel. Obviously very well and metiuously researched but I am suspicious of authors who quote verbatim dialogues when they couldn't have possibly know!

Not a bad read as it is very factual. But the level of detail it goes into means it is a slow and lengthy build up to the actual raid itself. The raid itself is interesting and it covers the aftermath and the implications for highjacking or hostage taking thereafter. I liked it but it was a bit slow in the first half of the book.

I absolutely loved reading this book. Saul David has successfully built the tension from the hijacking through to the raid and its aftermath. He also has managed to unpack a few myths too. Certainly worth a read.