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They Criticized the Entebbe Rescue, Too

(Los Angeles Jewish Journal) Dr. Rafael Medoff - UN officials and Western media have criticized Israel's rescue of four hostages from Gaza. But in 1976, there was criticism of Israel's rescue of hostages from Entebbe, too. The Organization of African Unity accused Israel of "wanton aggression" and demanded reparations for damage to the airport in Uganda. The Soviet and Chinese governments denounced "Zionist aggression." UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim charged that Israel had committed a "serious violation of the sovereignty" of Uganda. U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger informed Israel's ambassador in Washington that because the Israelis had used U.S. equipment in the raid, "we will have to put a temporary freeze on military shipments." Kissinger insisted that the U.S.-made C-130 transport planes could not be used outside Israel's borders "without prior consultation." Israel's prime minister in those days was Yitzhak Rabin, and the government was ruled by the Labor Party - a reminder that whether its leader is named Rabin or Netanyahu, there will always be those who complain when Israel takes action to defend the lives of its citizens. The writer is founding director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.
2024-06-16 00:00:00
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