Israeli Archives Reveal Behind-the-Scenes Drama of Entebbe Rescue Operation 50 Years Later
Fifty years after the daring Entebbe rescue mission, Michal Zeffat, head of documentation and commemoration at the Israeli State Archives, has unveiled new insights into the political decision-making during the crisis. In an interview with Channel 7, Zeffat described the painstaking archival work that led to the release of previously classified government documents, timed to coincide with the operation's 50th anniversary. This comprehensive material, including protocols, telegrams, and transcripts, reconstructs the tense and uncertain atmosphere faced by Israeli leaders.
The crisis began on a Sunday morning when an Air France plane was hijacked, coinciding with a routine government meeting. Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin received fragmented updates during the session and immediately formed a special ministerial committee that met eighteen times in the following week. Initially, information was scarce and confusing, with uncertainty about the hijackers' demands and the hostages' location. It was only three days later that the hijackers publicly issued their demands, and the release of non-Israeli hostages revealed a deliberate selection against Israeli and Jewish passengers.
This realization shifted the government's stance from relying on France to handle negotiations to preparing for direct engagement with Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Rabin declared a tougher approach toward Amin and began gathering intelligence to consider a military rescue. Contrary to popular belief, the idea of a military operation only emerged late in the week, after receiving detailed intelligence from released hostages and Israelis familiar with Entebbe.
Defense Minister Shimon Peres described the agonizing decision-making process, weighing the risks of negotiation against the potential loss of Israel's deterrence and the dangers of a failed rescue. Another notable revelation was the close, trust-based relationship between Rabin and Israeli newspaper editors, which enabled strict media silence to protect operational security and government strategy. Rabin personally met editors twice during the crisis, urging restraint in reporting and limiting coverage of hostage families’ protests.
Zeffat emphasized the human and leadership drama evident in the dry archival transcripts, noting the palpable tension and difficult exchanges that bring the historic event vividly to life. The newly released documents provide a fuller understanding of the complexities and moral weight borne by Israel’s leaders during one of its most iconic rescue missions.
