`Operation Entebee’ relived

CHANDIGARH, May 20: Operation Entebee, the textbook prescription for commando operations across the world and the thrill of any Olive Greens...

CHANDIGARH, May 20: Operation Entebee, the textbook prescription for commando operations across the world and the thrill of any Olive Greens anywhere in the world, is a much-repeated annal, from the bravado that Israeli Army is, on the silver screen. But when it comes from the Israelis themselves, the fare can be one full of realism, emotions and packed with precision.

Hence the third day of the ongoing Israeli Film Festival provided the handful of audience a chance to be part of that historical mission which left a trail of admiration for the Israeli commandos led by Col Yoni Netanyahu. For those who watched the film at the auditorium of Institute of Microbial Technology, it was not depicted “reel” life but life in its exactness as it had happened in the summer of 1976.

Director Boaz Davidson Menahem and his cinematographer Adam Greenberg could capture in totality the drama that gripped the passengers of the Air France airbus when Hadad’s recruits, affiliated to Arab terrorist movement, hijacked the plane and diverted to Uganda. The powerful background score could heighten the tension of each moment, especially when the Jews were being separated from the international tourists at the Entebee airport. The terrorists were bargaining their lives for the release of their leaders in Israeli custody.

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Yehoram Gaon in the role of Col Yoni has given a memorable performance as he has literally lived the role of the legendary hero of Israelis who went ahead with the planning even before the final go came from the Prime Minister’s Office. And Yoni’s boys tease him when they are on the plane, “Hey, Yoni, if we don’t reach Entebee, take us for a movie tomorrow.” But when the final green signal comes, it is Yoni’s turn to tease them, “Now you owe me a movie.” And that is the movie which we saw this evening, for the main brain behind world’s greatest commando operation had succumbed to the bullets shot by the Ugandan soldiers.

But not before rescuing his countrymen from the hijackers who were sitting ducks for Yoni’s daring boys.

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