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Yoni's Last Battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976
On July 4, 1976, more than a hundred hostages, held at gunpoint in Entebbe, Uganda, were freed in a spectacular rescue operation and flown to safety in Israel, over 2000 miles away. Their captors were Arab and German terrorists, aided by the Ugandan army; their liberators were members of Israel's elite commando unit, Sayeret Matkal, simply known as "the Unit." Lt.-Col. Yoni (Jonathan) Netanyahu, the Unit's commander, earned world-wide fame in the wake of the operation's stunning success. He was the only Israeli soldier killed in the Entebbe raid. As a brother of the rescue force's commander, and himself a member of the Unit, Iddo Netanyahu had ready access to the participants in the raid. He was able to obtain detailed accounts from the men of the Unit who, for the first time, described the planning and preparations for the mission and its near-perfect execution. What emerged from their accounts is a powerful and stirring story of how the daring undertaking was accomplished after only 48 hours of frantic preparations. Yoni's Last Battle portrays the men who carried out an incredibly hazardous operation in far-away Africa. Above all, it depicts the heroic - and tragic - figure of their commander, Yoni.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2001
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161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 13, 2017
The story of the rescue at Entebbe has interested me for a while and I wanted to read this to gain more detailed information on it... And the book turned out to be way more than I expected!! Not only does the author give great detail about the entire operation and it's planning and background, but he also portrays the life of a truly remarkable man in these pages. Yoni Netanyahu is a great example of how to lead by example and to do what is right, and the world is definitely poorer without him in it.
May 2, 2025
Yoni's Last Battle by his brother Iddo Netanyahu (also brother to the Prime Minister) chronicles Israel's brave fight against the barbaric evil of terrorism. Through detailed research and firsthand accounts, the book details Operation Entebbe, the 1976 mission where Israeli commandos traveled 2,200 miles to Uganda to rescue 105 innocent hostages held by terrorists who, like their Palestinian counterparts today, targeted Jews with calculated savagery.
Lt.-Col. Jonathan "Yoni" Netanyahu led this heroic mission, his moral clarity and tactical excellence showing Israel's commitment to protecting Jewish lives against those seeking their destruction. The text describes crucial moments—the convoy approaching the terminal in a black Mercedes to deceive Ugandan guards—revealing how a democracy surrounded by enemies confronts evil that the world often ignores or appeases.
The book shows how Israel's defense forces operated with the moral imperative that still guides them against Palestinian terrorists. Intelligence came from a Jeppesen flight manual and soldiers' memories. The bold plan to land C-130s at Entebbe emerged from the creative determination that now drives Israel's defense against Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations.
Defense minister Shimon Peres arranged calls to Amin while the IDF worked under pressure, knowing hostages would die if they failed—similar to the threats Israel faces from Palestinian terrorists who target civilians with barbaric disregard for human life. Though exhausted, Yoni never hesitated, embodying the steadfast resolve Israel shows when confronting Palestinian terrorism's savagery.
Yoni's Last Battle chronicles a rescue mission and affirms Israel's moral obligation to defend itself against terrorism's depravity. Facing international indifference then—as now when confronting Hamas's atrocities—Israel pushed beyond limitations to assert a fundamental truth: Jewish lives matter, terrorism must be defeated, and civilization depends on confronting barbarism with resolve.
Yoni died at the terminal's threshold, giving his life in the noble cause that continues today—protecting innocent lives against those who celebrate death and destruction. His sacrifice reminds us that when the world equivocates facing evil, Israel fights against terrorism's savage ideology, defending its citizens and the values of human dignity and freedom that Palestinian terrorism tries to destroy.
Lt.-Col. Jonathan "Yoni" Netanyahu led this heroic mission, his moral clarity and tactical excellence showing Israel's commitment to protecting Jewish lives against those seeking their destruction. The text describes crucial moments—the convoy approaching the terminal in a black Mercedes to deceive Ugandan guards—revealing how a democracy surrounded by enemies confronts evil that the world often ignores or appeases.
The book shows how Israel's defense forces operated with the moral imperative that still guides them against Palestinian terrorists. Intelligence came from a Jeppesen flight manual and soldiers' memories. The bold plan to land C-130s at Entebbe emerged from the creative determination that now drives Israel's defense against Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations.
Defense minister Shimon Peres arranged calls to Amin while the IDF worked under pressure, knowing hostages would die if they failed—similar to the threats Israel faces from Palestinian terrorists who target civilians with barbaric disregard for human life. Though exhausted, Yoni never hesitated, embodying the steadfast resolve Israel shows when confronting Palestinian terrorism's savagery.
Yoni's Last Battle chronicles a rescue mission and affirms Israel's moral obligation to defend itself against terrorism's depravity. Facing international indifference then—as now when confronting Hamas's atrocities—Israel pushed beyond limitations to assert a fundamental truth: Jewish lives matter, terrorism must be defeated, and civilization depends on confronting barbarism with resolve.
Yoni died at the terminal's threshold, giving his life in the noble cause that continues today—protecting innocent lives against those who celebrate death and destruction. His sacrifice reminds us that when the world equivocates facing evil, Israel fights against terrorism's savage ideology, defending its citizens and the values of human dignity and freedom that Palestinian terrorism tries to destroy.
January 22, 2018
Really good book on the rescue of Israeli hostages in Entebbe Uganda. What makes this particularly poignant is that the author is Yoni's brother (and also Benjamin Netanyahu's brother). Iddo served in the same "Unit" as Yoni, so he not only understood his brother's motivation's as well as this particular military unit.
April 17, 2014
I first became interested in the story of Yoni, when I accidentally came across a copy of the Book entitled "The letters of Yoni". When I came across the book and read the subject matter, I remembered the story of the raid on Entebbe and the hijacking of the French airliner by German and Arab terrorists. I didn't read the book until I found out that we were on our way to Israel, while I was stationed aboard the USS Nimitz CVN 68, While in Israel, it was then when I realized, how different life in Israel was from the United States. I observed Israeli soldiers in and out at uniform carrying their weapons. While we were there PLO terrorists had planted a bomb on a bus and killed most of the Israelis that were on the bus. It then hit me how dangerous it was to live in Israel, surrounded On all sides by Arab nations, Who wanted to do nothing else, but to annihilate The nation of Israel and it's people. After I read the book, that is when I first held Yoni, with high regard and great respect.
Yoni's Last battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976 - Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down, I had to force myself to close the book so that I did go to sleep or eat. Yoni was the brother of Benjamin Netanyahu Who is the prime minister of Israel. This book describes all the events and training that took place before the actual raid. It showed just how great a leader and strategies that Yoni was, it also showed all the trials and negativity that he was forced to overcome and getting his plan approved by his superiors and the Israeli cabinet and Prime Minister. This book is a detailed account of the raid, and how the hostages were freed and brought 2000 miles to safety Israel. One of the problems that Yoni had to overcome was the fear from the Israeli leadership that the raid would end in disaster, and causing the death of all the hostages and the annihilation of the rescue force. Failure would be disastrous to the nation of Israel and would cause death of the best trained soldiers that Israel had to offer.
In this book you get an intimate look at the leadership and capabilities of Yoni as a leader and the man. So get a glimpse of the training and the man that went on the mission. To me this was an outstanding book that covered most aspect of the preparation and the execution of the raid itself. It also show the inner turmoil that Yoni felt at the time. Like most men and military leaders it died young his greatness and ability we're not appreciated until his death.
Yoni's Last battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976 - Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down, I had to force myself to close the book so that I did go to sleep or eat. Yoni was the brother of Benjamin Netanyahu Who is the prime minister of Israel. This book describes all the events and training that took place before the actual raid. It showed just how great a leader and strategies that Yoni was, it also showed all the trials and negativity that he was forced to overcome and getting his plan approved by his superiors and the Israeli cabinet and Prime Minister. This book is a detailed account of the raid, and how the hostages were freed and brought 2000 miles to safety Israel. One of the problems that Yoni had to overcome was the fear from the Israeli leadership that the raid would end in disaster, and causing the death of all the hostages and the annihilation of the rescue force. Failure would be disastrous to the nation of Israel and would cause death of the best trained soldiers that Israel had to offer.
In this book you get an intimate look at the leadership and capabilities of Yoni as a leader and the man. So get a glimpse of the training and the man that went on the mission. To me this was an outstanding book that covered most aspect of the preparation and the execution of the raid itself. It also show the inner turmoil that Yoni felt at the time. Like most men and military leaders it died young his greatness and ability we're not appreciated until his death.
September 12, 2017
A really excellent account of the hostage rescue in Entembbe, Uganda. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the tale as told by the men on the ground. Many lessons can derived from the book in the areas of leadership and preparation for things that matter when you have the desired time to prepare.
March 30, 2023
I actually finished reading this book a few weeks ago, but wasn't sure what I would want to write about in my review. Here it is:
The book tells the story of a 1976 rescue operation by an Israeli elite military unit of more than one hundred hostages, who were held captive by Palestinian and German terrorists at the airport of Entebbe, Uganda. The terrorists hijacked a French airplane, and kept the hostages in an old airport building at Entebbe. The Ugandan army helped the terrorists.
The Israeli rescue operation was daring, and a success, but the Israeli military unit's commander, Yoni Netanyahu, was killed during the resuce mission. I'm not telling you any spoilers, all that information is printed on the book's dust jacket.
The book was written by Yoni's brother Iddo Netanyahu, another brother is the current (in 2023) Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The writer recounts in detail the preparation for this mission, which - as a reader, and not as a military analyst - I wouldn't have needed to be told in such detail. I would have preferred more information about Yoni Netanyahu as a person: more childhood stories, more personal information, etc. That's why I am only giving this book three "stars."
But....
I pulled this book from my bookshelf - never having read it before, it ended up in my personal library when a friend got rid of it several years ago - when the Israeli people started to protest en masse against the judicial reforms in Israel at the beginning of 2023, which would weaken the country's democratic structures and put Israel on a path towards dictatorship. The reforms were intitiated by the late Yoni Netanyahu's brother, Benjamin, and while I was reading this book, I couldn't help thinking over and over again, "Is this what Yoni died for?"
My personal impression is that, were he alive today, Yoni would be very ashamed of the actions of his brother Benjamin. To give your own life for Israel is heroic, and his death was a tragedy. But for me as a reader, it is mind-blowing that almost 50 years later the dead soldier's brother is the greatest danger to the democratic state of Israel.
The book tells the story of a 1976 rescue operation by an Israeli elite military unit of more than one hundred hostages, who were held captive by Palestinian and German terrorists at the airport of Entebbe, Uganda. The terrorists hijacked a French airplane, and kept the hostages in an old airport building at Entebbe. The Ugandan army helped the terrorists.
The Israeli rescue operation was daring, and a success, but the Israeli military unit's commander, Yoni Netanyahu, was killed during the resuce mission. I'm not telling you any spoilers, all that information is printed on the book's dust jacket.
The book was written by Yoni's brother Iddo Netanyahu, another brother is the current (in 2023) Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The writer recounts in detail the preparation for this mission, which - as a reader, and not as a military analyst - I wouldn't have needed to be told in such detail. I would have preferred more information about Yoni Netanyahu as a person: more childhood stories, more personal information, etc. That's why I am only giving this book three "stars."
But....
I pulled this book from my bookshelf - never having read it before, it ended up in my personal library when a friend got rid of it several years ago - when the Israeli people started to protest en masse against the judicial reforms in Israel at the beginning of 2023, which would weaken the country's democratic structures and put Israel on a path towards dictatorship. The reforms were intitiated by the late Yoni Netanyahu's brother, Benjamin, and while I was reading this book, I couldn't help thinking over and over again, "Is this what Yoni died for?"
My personal impression is that, were he alive today, Yoni would be very ashamed of the actions of his brother Benjamin. To give your own life for Israel is heroic, and his death was a tragedy. But for me as a reader, it is mind-blowing that almost 50 years later the dead soldier's brother is the greatest danger to the democratic state of Israel.
September 2, 2017
本書的特點在於對恩德比行動的描述是從參與的人員眼中來看，作者不但是當時領導此次突擊行動的指揮官的弟弟，自己本身也是同單位的退伍老兵，所以可以取得許多更詳細的、未曾公開的內幕。
作者直接而坦白的文風，不避諱內部人員的不滿不合、以及軍政高層茫無頭緒的混亂情形，讓我們了解到，原來以色列國防軍不是像外表那樣的光鮮，他們也是人，在碰到緊急狀況的時候，也會張皇失措不知道如何處理。而恩德比行動的計劃、執行與成功，竟然不過是來自於一名中階軍官的決心與信心。而這個千里奔襲的大膽行動（從以色列到烏干達單程距離2200英哩），卻是在行動開始前兩天才開始計畫的；由來自四支不同單位組成的突擊部隊，甚至要等到從以色列的基地出發前數小時才第一次見面協調。但是，以色列菁英部隊的素質與主觀能動性，再加上一點點運氣，卻去讓這個近乎不可能的行動成功了。
原書內容很好，但翻譯有不少問題，比如把「敘利亞」多處誤譯成「塞爾維亞」，結果以色列人竟然在1973年贖罪日戰爭的時候在戈蘭高地上跟塞爾維亞人狠狠地打了一仗。另外如把「貝瑞塔」（Beretta）誤譯成「四角帽」（Biretta），竟出現了「他發射了四角帽上7顆子彈中的6顆，並且相信最後一發擊中了目標」這種令人瞠目的句子。
作者直接而坦白的文風，不避諱內部人員的不滿不合、以及軍政高層茫無頭緒的混亂情形，讓我們了解到，原來以色列國防軍不是像外表那樣的光鮮，他們也是人，在碰到緊急狀況的時候，也會張皇失措不知道如何處理。而恩德比行動的計劃、執行與成功，竟然不過是來自於一名中階軍官的決心與信心。而這個千里奔襲的大膽行動（從以色列到烏干達單程距離2200英哩），卻是在行動開始前兩天才開始計畫的；由來自四支不同單位組成的突擊部隊，甚至要等到從以色列的基地出發前數小時才第一次見面協調。但是，以色列菁英部隊的素質與主觀能動性，再加上一點點運氣，卻去讓這個近乎不可能的行動成功了。
原書內容很好，但翻譯有不少問題，比如把「敘利亞」多處誤譯成「塞爾維亞」，結果以色列人竟然在1973年贖罪日戰爭的時候在戈蘭高地上跟塞爾維亞人狠狠地打了一仗。另外如把「貝瑞塔」（Beretta）誤譯成「四角帽」（Biretta），竟出現了「他發射了四角帽上7顆子彈中的6顆，並且相信最後一發擊中了目標」這種令人瞠目的句子。
December 16, 2023
This is THE book to read if you want to understand how the ectraorfinary Entebbe rescue took place. Ido Netanyahu is in a unique position to explain the events and obviously the impact it had on him as Yoni's brother. I cannot recommend it highly enough. May Yoni Neyanyahu's memory be a blessing to his family and friends. He is the epitome of a modernJewish hero.
April 17, 2018
Telling the story
The story is told well from the focus of Yoni and the Unit. It is a shame that there are so many typos, especially in the last third of the book. It is distracting.
The story is told well from the focus of Yoni and the Unit. It is a shame that there are so many typos, especially in the last third of the book. It is distracting.
November 3, 2021
Had read about Operation Entebbe in many articles and over the internet. Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu courage is exemplary. This book helps in understanding one of the glorious son of Israel and his bravery.
May 26, 2021
Heartfelt account of the hero's last days written by his younger brother
June 20, 2022
Very important book about one of the greatest heroes in modern history.
Read
November 6, 2023This is my second time reading this memoir/historical nonfiction book which is made up of letters Jonathan Netanyahu (the commander of the Entebbe rescue force) sent to his family and those closest to him.
Last time I read this book, I was in the army and it really opened my eyes to what Israel has gone through and the power of the IDF.
Now, I decided to pick this book back up during one of Israel’s darkest times - the war with Hamas following October 7th. And, my biggest takeaway - 50 years have passed since Yoni Netanyahu fought in the 6 day war, Yom Kippur war and many, many more other conflicts…but Israel is still dealing with the same problems and the same terrorists. I just hope that 50 years from now, things will be entirely different…for the better.
Last time I read this book, I was in the army and it really opened my eyes to what Israel has gone through and the power of the IDF.
Now, I decided to pick this book back up during one of Israel’s darkest times - the war with Hamas following October 7th. And, my biggest takeaway - 50 years have passed since Yoni Netanyahu fought in the 6 day war, Yom Kippur war and many, many more other conflicts…but Israel is still dealing with the same problems and the same terrorists. I just hope that 50 years from now, things will be entirely different…for the better.
November 19, 2024
A fascinating and fact filled, but never boring, recounting of the rescue at Entebbe. Lots of details and easy to read at the same time.
January 15, 2014
Yoni’s Last Battle: The Rescue at Entebbe, 1976
By Iddo Netanyahu
After reading A Voice Called by Yossi Katz and visiting the Golan Heights in Israel, I set out to learn more about Yoni Netanyahu. I picked up this book as well as Self-Portrait of a Hero: The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu (1963-1976) with an introduction and afterword by Benjamin and Iddo Netanyahu and proceeded to read both books at the same time. The 34th anniversary of the Rescue at Entebbe took place when I was reading these two books.
This book was written by his younger brother, Iddo and was extensively researched to verify events, meetings, conversations, orders, and documentation.
Beginning on July 1, 1976 the story outlines all the decisions made by the government, the military and Yoni as the Commander of the Unit in planning the rescue of all the passengers of the Air France plane that was hijacked on a flight from Tel Aviv to Paris. When the plane was moved from Athens, Greece to Entebbe, Uganda; the four hijackers made a demand that forty terrorists were to be released from Israeli prisons. Israel’s Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his cabinet decided to deny the request.
In the course of three days, the rescue plan was designed and reworked until the time of the landing in Entebbe. Yoni is very detailed orientated and never leaves anything to fate; he checks and double checks. Every aspect of the mission is analyzed and anticipated.
After landing at the Ugandan airport at night, Yoni leads his men in a quick operation to bring all the Israeli hostages to safety. As a natural leader he gets his men to follow him into battle and to continue the assignment even when he is fatally wounded.
The description of bringing Yoni Netanyahu’s body back to Israel after the successful rescue of the Israeli passengers is a very poignant account. To this day, this man is considered a hero to the people of Israel as well as to the rest of the world.
An exceptional man who is remembered for serving his country and who put his life on the line for the benefit of its people. If you want to read about an extraordinary man who loved his country so much that he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, then please read this book.
By Iddo Netanyahu
After reading A Voice Called by Yossi Katz and visiting the Golan Heights in Israel, I set out to learn more about Yoni Netanyahu. I picked up this book as well as Self-Portrait of a Hero: The Letters of Jonathan Netanyahu (1963-1976) with an introduction and afterword by Benjamin and Iddo Netanyahu and proceeded to read both books at the same time. The 34th anniversary of the Rescue at Entebbe took place when I was reading these two books.
This book was written by his younger brother, Iddo and was extensively researched to verify events, meetings, conversations, orders, and documentation.
Beginning on July 1, 1976 the story outlines all the decisions made by the government, the military and Yoni as the Commander of the Unit in planning the rescue of all the passengers of the Air France plane that was hijacked on a flight from Tel Aviv to Paris. When the plane was moved from Athens, Greece to Entebbe, Uganda; the four hijackers made a demand that forty terrorists were to be released from Israeli prisons. Israel’s Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and his cabinet decided to deny the request.
In the course of three days, the rescue plan was designed and reworked until the time of the landing in Entebbe. Yoni is very detailed orientated and never leaves anything to fate; he checks and double checks. Every aspect of the mission is analyzed and anticipated.
After landing at the Ugandan airport at night, Yoni leads his men in a quick operation to bring all the Israeli hostages to safety. As a natural leader he gets his men to follow him into battle and to continue the assignment even when he is fatally wounded.
The description of bringing Yoni Netanyahu’s body back to Israel after the successful rescue of the Israeli passengers is a very poignant account. To this day, this man is considered a hero to the people of Israel as well as to the rest of the world.
An exceptional man who is remembered for serving his country and who put his life on the line for the benefit of its people. If you want to read about an extraordinary man who loved his country so much that he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, then please read this book.
April 27, 2015
This insider's view of one of the greatest military raids of the 20th century is a must-read. If there is one consolation for Yoni's death, it's in the realm of ideas. What will be remembered from all this? The answer is found in the words of Bayard Rustin, an African American civil rights activist: "I am certain that for years to come, perhaps even a thousand years from now, when people are confused and frightened, and they are dispossessed of their humanity and feel that there is no way to go except to face death and destruction, someone will remember the story of Yoni at Entebbe. That story will be told to those despairing people, and someone will move into a corner and begin to whisper and that will be the beginning of their liberation."
July 2, 2015
Being very interested in the past and present state of Israel, I picked up this book written by the subject's very own brother, to peek inside the operation that took his life. I found the writing sometimes tedious (lots of detail, but then again, the author is a family member), but the detail for the most part was interesting. It's the story of the planning and execution of the rescue of hostages in Uganda under Idi Amin's tyrannical rule (another interesting story). Israel's controversial intelligence and special operations units are fascinating to study (to me), and their territorial 'loyalty' to their 'own', especially when no one else will act is heroic-although often leads to international criticism. I think they've earned the right to take action, myself.
February 23, 2011
A very courageous story about the rescue of the hostages taken to entebbe.The life of Yoni"s last operation brought a very courageous life to a ending and played a important role in shaping questions about commitment to a cause for ones nation as opposed to your own life
August 30, 2012
A touching tribute to an older brother who is also an Israeli hero. The editing (or maybe it is the translation) could be better at times, and the non-Entebbe material is not always compelling, but certainly the material on the raid itself is outstanding.
June 22, 2015
All I can say is this guy was an an inspiration for me growing up -- coming from US to be in service to his nation under siege. I think all my my friends saw what his life was about and wanted to be that.
December 3, 2013
The story of Yoni Netanyahuy and the Rescue at Entebbe 1976.
January 2, 2016
Ecellent!
July 12, 2016
Tribute
This is a true story of courage and tenacity written by a brother of Toni Netanyahu. The tale is wildly exciting but Iddo is rather extravagant in his praise of Toni.
This is a true story of courage and tenacity written by a brother of Toni Netanyahu. The tale is wildly exciting but Iddo is rather extravagant in his praise of Toni.
July 12, 2015
Great man!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews