Netanyahu Recounts Near-Drowning During 1969 Sayeret Matkal Mission

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on Channel 14's "HaPatriotim" program, hosted by Yinon Magal, where he was reunited with a former comrade from his Sayeret Matkal unit, Michael Yigal Maimon. The two served together from their enlistment in August 1967 until the completion of their officer's course, sharing a room and tent. They recounted a dramatic incident from May 13, 1969, during Operation "Bulmus 4" in the Suez Canal.

Maimon described how, two days after a previous operation, their unit attempted another raid, unaware that Egyptian forces were waiting. As they reached the middle of the canal, heavy fire erupted, and their vehicle began to reverse. Netanyahu fell into the water carrying an IWI Uzi submachine gun and heavy ammunition. Another soldier, Israel Nir, spotted Netanyahu in the water and brought him closer to their boat, from which Maimon, Doron Zaltsberg, and another soldier pulled him out.

Netanyahu, recalling the event, stated that his life vest inflated only halfway, which was insufficient. He described sinking with the weapon and ammunition, believing he was going to die as his lungs began to fill with water. He made a final attempt to reach the surface and felt a hand grab him, an experience he said is unforgettable.

Netanyahu added with a smile that for 50 years, rumors and urban legends have circulated about that night, but the soldiers who were present know the truth. When asked about his current political stance, Maimon expressed strong support for Netanyahu, calling it a great privilege to have served with him. He described the current moment as a historic crossroads, with Netanyahu leading the "king's road" to the right, while the opposite path leads to an abyss.