Operation Thunderbolt (1977) - full transcript

In July 1976, an Air France flight from Tel-Aviv to Paris via Athens was hijacked and forced to land in Entebbe, Uganda. The Jewish passengers were separated and held hostage in demand to release many terrorists held in Israeli prisons. After much debate, the Israeli government sent an elite commando unit to raid the airfield and release the hostages. The film is based on the true facts and follows the events since the flight's takeoff and until the hostages' return to Israel.

Noah Films
thanks the lsraeli Defense Forces

for assisting technically and
providing the necessary equipment

for producing this film. However,
the producers would like to clarify

that the lDF did not take part in
the initiative to make this film

and that the producers are
exclusively responsible

for its contents
and presentation.

Noah Films wishes to express their
gratitude to the lsraeli government

and its ministers for their help
in the making of this film.

Especially Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin, Foreign Minister Yigal Alon,

Defense Minister Shimon Peres and
Transportation Minister Gad Yakobi

who agreed to have footage of them
inlaid within the film.



Noah Films Presents:

Yehoram Gaon

Gila Almagor

Asi Dayan

No good.

ln a film by Menahem Golan

Operation Thunderbolt

Ready?

Go.

Go.

Once more.

Go.

We can do it much faster.

Come on, let's do it again.



Ready?

Go.

lt's not good enough.

Come on, let's do it again.

Produced by:
Menahen Golan & Yoram Globus

Written and Directed by:
Menahem Golan

Here's your passport
and boarding pass.

Have a nice flight. -Has my
kosher meal been arranged?

Yes, of course.
-Thank you.

Do you really have to mess up
our luggage? We're lsraelis!

Mom, it's a security check.

Efrayim, don't interrupt
when l'm talking.

140 Lira, please.

This is the last tax
l pay in this country.

l hate goodbyes. Take Bobo.
Take good care of him, OK?

Yona, why are you crying?

Your brother could have sent me
a ticket too, he's rich.

lf he's that rich, why would
he leave Greece for America?

Uri, take care of your mom.

And Amnon, take care
of this country till l come back.

OK, Dad, don't worry.

Rami, don't forget to write.
-l don't understand,

why don't you fly with El-Al?
-What's the difference?

Hey, there's Bobby.
Bobby!

He's here, finally...

Keep this
in the office for me,

l'll pick it up in two weeks
when l get back.

What took you so long?
-Don't come near me,

we'll talk on the plane.
-But you have my ticket.

Are you going to wear
your uniform to Paris?

Go inside, we'll talk later.
-What about my luggage?

Mom, l don't understand why
you have to go to New York.

Danny wants us there.
-Can't he get married in lsrael?

We're going,
stop upsetting Mom.

Mother will wait for you
at the airport in Paris.

l'll miss you, Daddy.
-l'll miss you too.

Attention please.

Announcing the arrival
of Air France,

flight no. 139 from Tel Aviv
en route to Paris.

Departure will be announced
when the flight is ready to go.

Thank you.
Yes, please.

Moshe.

Our ''cousins''.
-So what?

Get me that perfume.

All passengers
for flight 139 to Paris

will proceed to gate no. 10 for
immediate boarding. Thank you.

Stop. What happened?
-There's a power failure.

You may go through.

You may go through.
Have a nice flight.

What are you doing?

Moshe, it's late. -Relax, Mom,
we'll be taking off soon.

Pnina, sit down
and fasten you seat belt.

Efrayim, you too.

Efrayim, what are you
staring at?

They look like Arabs.
-Oh, stop it.

They're tourists, just like us.
-l don't trust them.

Stop this nonsense, take your
book out and read. Really...

Excuse me,
l don't speak German.

Are you from lsrael?
-Yes, why?

l would like very much to visit
your country one day. -Oh.

We have many tourists
from Germany. -ls that so?

Surprising, isn't it?

How the world changes.
-Yeah.

Would you like a paper?

lsraeli newspaper?

Would you like a paper?

Ladies and gentlemen,
this is your captain speaking.

l welcome the passengers
who joined us in Athens

on this Air France
flight no. 139.

We will land at Charles de Gaulle
Airport in Paris

in about two and a half hours.

We will fly at an altitude
of 10,000 meters,

at a speed of 900 kilometers
per hour.

Weather conditions
are good.

l wish you all
a pleasant flight.

What do you have there?

l don't speak Hebrew.
You speak English?

What do you have there?
-Candy.

And there?

Dates. Want some?
-No. Thank you.

May l offer you some champagne?
-l have my own label.

l'll get you some glasses.

Mom, look!

Everybody up!

Up! Up!

Hands on you head. Now!

To the back of the aircraft.

Hands on your head.
Put your hands on your head.

On the floor. -On the floor,
face down. Quickly!

Get up.
Leave her alone.

To the back.

Keep going.

Quickly!

Everything will be all right
if you stay in your seats,

don't move and obey.

What's all that noise?
Would you take a look?

Sit down.

You will do exactly
what l say. -OK.

l know how to navigate,
don't try to fool me.

What do you want me to do?

We're changing course,
southwest.

South Africa... -Shut up!

We should do as he says.

And no French!
-OK.

Now go ahead,
change course.

l got a hijack signal,
it's Air France 139. -Where?

On southwest direction now.
Get the security. -OK, sir.

Emergency! Emergency!

Everybody stay in your seats,

keep your hands up
and be quiet. ls that clear?

This is a grenade
and we can blow the plane up.

The plane's turning...

Quiet you there!

This is a hand grenade, l'll blow
up the plane if a word is said.

Quiet!

All right?
-OK, everything's under control.

Captain.

Give me the microphone.

You want to speak
to the passengers? -Yes.

May l have
your attention please.

This is your new captain speaking.
My name is Fazil El-Kubezi,

of the Che Guevara Force.

The special command unit,
''Gaza''.

This plane is now
under our control.

lt will answer
to the name ''Haifa''

and only to that name.

How dare he call
the plane ''Haifa''?

Efrayim, just be quiet.

Mom, l'm tired, can l put
my hands down? -No, dummy.

No one asked you.
-Stop fighting.

We should have never
left lsrael.

l had a feeling
things would turn out badly.

We have an American visa,
and a Green Card.

Maybe they'll leave us alone.

Yeah, but we also have
lsraeli passports. -Quiet!

l have an opening
in Paris this week.

l'm an actress.

They will not hold us
that long, will they?

They'll kill us,
like the Nazis.

l'm sorry.

''Air France 139, hijacked 20
minutes after take-off from Athens''

- Ministry of Transportation -

Announce a high-status emergency.
-Yes, Minister.

- Prime Minister's Office -

Get me the file on hijacking,
it should be here somewhere.

Yitzhak?

Ella? Hello, where is he?
-ln the Knesset. Tax debate.

Still at it?
Shula, we're going to the Knesset.

Dan, what happened?

- Ministry of Foreign Affairs -

- Ministry of Defense -

Yes. -Sir, the chief-of-staff
is on the line.

Yes, Motta.

l understand,
l'll send Yoni's men.

Get Yoni on the line, immediately.

Hello. Yoni, it's for you.
-Who is it?

Yes.

When?

l see.

What's wrong?
-A plane was hijacked.

Ziva, let me talk to Meir.

Meir, Yoni's on the line.

Yeah, what's up?
-A plane was hijacked.

Get the men over to the airport,
l'll see you there. -OK.

Make contact with Shuki.

l'll call later.
-No kiss?

What are you doing next month?
-Why?

We're getting married.

''Air France flight no. 139
en route from Athens to Paris

''was hijacked this morning twenty
minutes after take-off from Athens.

''Many passengers on the flight,
which originated in Tel Aviv,

''are lsraeli. The government's
security committee

''is holding an emergency session
with the Prime Minister.

''There is no news on the direction
in which the airbus is heading

''or on the hijackers' demands.''

Shuki, you're so preoccupied
with these flowers

that you don't even know
what's happening in the world.

What could possibly happen?

A plane full of lsraelis
was hijacked.

Please. Ladies and gentlemen,
one at a time.

Yes, Mr Rogman.
-Thank you, Mr Zamir.

Which way are they heading?

Our latest report is that
the Airbus is flying southwest.

That could mean
Egypt or Algeria?

At this stage, your guess is as good
as mine. -Thank you very much.

Mr Richards.

ls there any chance that they'll
try to land here in Tel Aviv?

We don't know.

At this minute, they are heading
towards the North African coast.

Only one more question.

l really must get back to
the Prime Minister's office.

One last question.

Yes, Mr Ryan. -Mr Zamir,
are there many lsraelis aboard?

We don't know exactly,
but a considerable number.

Let's say the plane lands
in Algeria,

now that wouldn't be
the first time

a large group of lsraelis have been
held in an Arab country, right?

Yes, you're right, if you recall,
an El Al flight was hijacked

to Algeria in 1968. -1968.

Well, what's the government
planning to do about that?

At this moment,
all we can do is wait.

Mr Zamir, l'm sure you can
give us more details.

l don't understand why the same
thing always happen to lsraelis?

Our Foreign Minister Alon, is in
touch with all the foreign ministers

and at this moment he's on
the telephone with Dr Kissinger.

Everybody listen to me.

Put your hands down and
take out your passports.

Hold them high above your heads
so we can see them.

You're lucky, you have
an American passport.

Miryam, what are you doing?

Be quiet, don't call me Miryam,
call me Mary.

You must give them
your passport.

l have two. l'll give them
the British one.

Up! Hold the passports
above your heads!

Will we get them back?

We have American visa.

See? l told you.
-Silence, l said.

Now you can keep your hands
down, but no speaking!

Ladies and gentlemen,

this is your new captain
speaking again.

For your information,

in thirty minutes,
we will be landing.

Attention!
-Quiet!

After the Sabena hijacking,
the terrorists know

that we are capable
of raiding a plane,

but each situation
has its own solution.

This time it's a French airbus.

Pay attention. The plane has 3
entrances: back, center and front.

Will they let us get off?

Here in Benghazi?
l hope not.

l wouldn't want
to bump into Kaddafi.

Mommy, it is so hot.
-l know, my darling, l know.

What are you doing?

What's wrong with you?

Where's your shaving kit?
-l don't know. Why?

l need something sharp,
a pin.

Ma'am, let me have
your brooch for a second.

What are you doing? -Stop it.
she's looking at us.

''Haifa'' to Benghazi.
''Haifa'' to Benghazi.

What's wrong?
-l can't do anything.

She's pregnant and she's bleeding.
She must get to a hospital.

OK, we'll see what we can do.

Thank you.

We have a pregnant
woman who's bleeding.

We'd better get her out of here.

How do you know she isn't faking?
-The doctor examined her.

l'll get an ambulance.

Caprila, stay calm.

Down in your seats. Why did
you let these people stand up?

Sit down!

''Haifa'' to Benghazi.

''Haifa'' to Benghazi.

We can't go on like this,
these people need oxygen.

lt's none of your business.

How can a German woman be
involved in something like this?

We're freedom fighters.
-Really?

Whose freedom?
-The whole world's.

Haven't we Germans done
enough to the Jews already?

Your Germany is not my Germany.
We're not fighting the Jews.

We're fighting against
the imperialistic Zionists,

just like we're fighting the
German reactionary government.

Back to your seat!

Remind the Minister that Dr Haddad
was promised your full cooperation.

We need thirty tons of fuel.

And where's the ambulance
l asked for?

Hello. -Hello.
-Pleased to meet you.

Hello. President Kaddafi
sends you his regards.

Send him our regards in return.

ls everything set?
-Everything is OK.

May Allah be with you.
Goodbye.

We're taking off.
-Where to?

l'll tell you later,
just take off.

Hello, sir. We want to see
the Prime Minister.

We must speak to him.
-l'm sorry, you can't go in here.

No, we must see
the Prime Minister.

We'll show you our lD cards.
-No.

Sir, my son's on that plane.
-l can't let you in. -Why not?

What's going on here?
-Hello, sir.

My name is Dr Weissberg.
-From the press?

No, my son is on the plane.

This is my wife and Mr Grossman.

l'm Nurit Aviv's lawyer.
She's my client and friend.

Nurit Aviv, the actress?
She's on the plane too? -Yes.

We must see the Prime Minister.
-l'm sure he'd like to meet you,

but he's very busy,
he's in a very important meeting.

What's more important than the
lives of 250 innocent people?

Go.

You don't need that.

lt's my beauty-case,
it's makeup.

l said, you don't need that.

Nobody will look
at your face here.

Now you can go.

Lay down!
-Everybody, back in your seats!

Get back,
or you'll get the same.

Sit down!

Why didn't you
raise your hand?

l told you before,
if you want to go to the toilet,

you raise your hand,
is that clear?

Hurry up!

Hurry up!

Faster! Faster!

Faster!

Don't look at me like that.

Do it faster!

lf you decide to leave
the army, go and study.

lt's always good to
''recharge your batteries''.

Take my advice,
go and study.

Then why did you leave
your studies and reenlist?

Because it's important
to serve in the army.

Besides, l intend to
continue my studies.

Yoni.

You can send your men
back to base. -lt's over?

Not exactly,
they changed course.

They're flying over Africa.
-Were do you think they'll land?

Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
we don't know yet.

So now it's a political matter?
-lt's out of our hands.

l have a feeling it'll come back
to our hands.

OK, we're going home.

Yoni.

ls it over?
-Not yet.

Hello.

Hello.

Welcome to Uganda.

He's gonna kill us,
they're putting a bomb there.

Those are grenades.
-Quiet now.

Silence, l said.
Shut up. Will you shut up?

Gentlemen,
l have some news for you.

They've landed in Uganda.
-Uganda?

But lsrael has no diplomatic
relations with Uganda.

Yes, you're right,

but the Foreign Minister is on it
right now, trying to reach Amin

through the French authorities.

How many Americans Jews
are on board?

We believe we have
about 103 lsraelis,

the rest of them are American,
French and German tourists,

among them,
of course, several Jews.

ls there any information on
who's injured on this skyjack?

Two women were taken off in
Benghazi, on their way to London.

We'll have more news soon.
That's all, thank you.

What a night!

Great weather. ln this country,
the sun even shines at night.

Sorry, this is for
for the other six.

You'll get some later.
Sorry...

Please keep quiet,
a little bit.

Quiet, be quiet.

How's it going?

He will feel all right,
l shall give him something.

May l please have
some water, please?

Excuse me, tell me please, are
these black soldiers protecting us

or are they collaborating
with the terrorists?

l hope they'll protect us.
l hope...

That's all l can say. Please...
-Can't we take off? -We can't...

Do you speak French?
-No, Greek. -A little...

l'm asking you to cooperate
until this is over.

Ask him how long they'll keep
us here. -He doesn't know.

Do you know? Neither do l,
nor him. -l'm just asking.

We don't have a generator.
We'd be much better off if we did.

Please, don't upset him.
-Excuse me...

Are they going to publish
the names of all the passengers?

He has enough
on his mind.

Are they going to publish
the names of the passengers?

They're coming back.
Back to your seats.

Madam, please, sit down.

Quickly.

Ladies and gentlemen, please
get ready to leave the aircraft.

Don't worry about
your personal belongings.

lt will be brought along later.

l repeat: leave everything
behind you. Don't worry.

And take the back door.

Now the crew, captain first.
Come on!

Come on, move!

Move everybody!

Keep moving!

Please, go back.

Go back.

Move back please!

There aren't even
chairs here.

lt means they won't
keep us long.

Yes, they will.
-Everybody, shut up! -Quiet!

OK, l want some men here
to take the mattresses.

l want the men
to form a line.

Quiet! Quiet!

Move it!

Sit down, quiet now.
-Come on, take your seats.

Captain, sit down please.
Come on, move!

Take your seat.
Come on!

Everybody, stay where
you are now.

And nobody talks.

Will you shut up?

- Ministry of Defense -

l have nothing more
to say, gentlemen.

l told you, we just got their
demands, l've nothing more to say.

Mr Zamir, has the government
made a decision yet?

The government is holding
an emergency session.

They need to be helped.
-Only God can help them.

Oh, l see. Well, l guess we'll wait
and see what happens to them.

This woman has an lsraeli passport
and he has an American one.

He's American too.

Look, this is Lake Victoria.
The airport is right off the shore.

Our problem is
reaching the lake.

But no one asked us to do
anything, don't you understand?

Why don't you ask them
to ask us?

Dan, l want
to talk to you.

What's the matter, Yoni?
-What's going on?

Nothing, at the moment.
-Can't you do anything?

We're trying, Yoni.

This whole issue is political.

We're ready, but we're not
the ones calling the shots.

See this? Nobody came then,
nobody will come now.

lf we don't look out for ourselves,
no one will do it for us.

What do you want to do?
Escape into the jungle?

This is Uganda.

Here's Entebbe. This is
Lake Victoria and Kenya's here.

Then all we have to do
is cross Lake Victoria.

l can't swim.
-You always ruin everything.

l'm sure they'll help us in Kenya.
-What if we get caught?

Then they'll bring us back here
and our army will save us.

Good morning.

Well? -Nothing.
-Nothing? What's going on?

l'll tell you what's going on.

Our government will never
go for it. -Why not?

World opinion.
-l don't give a shit about that.

Shuki, Uganda is not
a small village of natives,

it's a sovereign state, you can't
walk in with soldiers and arms.

Hold on, l have
a suggestion for you.

Stop arguing and make a plan.
-What plan?

To get these people
back home.

This time we have the lsraelis
by the balls.

Yes, what can they do?

ls everything OK?
-Everything is OK.

Excuse me, may l ask you
something? -Yes.

l don't understand what
you're trying to achieve

by hijacking a plane
and killing people.

lt's a dirty world. lt must be
destroyed in order to be rebuilt.

Yes, but you, as a German,
what do you want from lsrael?

They stole Palestine and used
German money to do it.

A global revolution.

''The hostages spent
another night in Entebbe,

''not knowing whether there
is a solution to their crisis.

''The lsraeli government fears
that the lsraeli hostages

''will be separated
from the others.

''Foreign Minister Yigal Alon
has been in constant contact

''with his French counterpart.

''lsrael holds the French government
responsible for the well-being

''of all the hostages, regardless
of nationality or religion.''

Gentlemen, please, be quiet!
-They'll kill them all!

The government's not
doing a damn thing!

Who needs that terrorist
Okamoto here anyway?

He's getting fat on
our taxpayers' money!

Why can't we see
the Prime Minister?

Give me one reason.

Ladies and gentlemen,
listen to me.

We know that the Prime Minister
is doing his best

to release the hostages.

Your son's there,
why don't you do anything?

Because l don't believe that
shouting will get us anywhere.

Our Foreign Minister has been
in contact with Kissinger,

the French, the German,
everybody.

The French turned on us in
the past, they'll do it again.

They'll get their own people out
and leave ours stuck in Entebbe.

My husband was in
the Nazi camps.

He said no country in the world
ever lifted a finger to help.

No, we've been promised that
the lsraelis won't be separated

from the others.
lt's a promise, believe me.

Attention, everybody!
Attention!

Now listen to me.
There's a hole in that wall.

When your name is called,
pick up your things,

and go through that opening into
the next room, is that clear?

Excuse me, sir... -Only those
whose names are called.

Quiet, quiet,
nobody speaks!

Goldstein!
-That's me.

Perhaps they're letting us go.

Excuse me,
what am l supposed to do?

Just go through the opening.

What for? -All right,
just get in there.

Yuravitz family!

Rappaport!

Tell me, please,
are you letting us go?

Keep going.
Come on.

Mr and Mrs Cohen!

Arnon.

Cohan, not Cohen.
We're British, sir, we're British.

We're from Manchester.
-We're not Jewish.

Cohan, Cohen, it's a Jewish name.
They're lying, they're Jews.

Take them out.

Can we go together?
-ls she your wife?

No. -Then go alone,
you step back.

Ben-David.

Forman. -Monsieur, l would like
an explanation for this action.

Go back and be glad
your name won't be called.

l'm responsible for the lives
of these passengers. All of them.

Why the separation?

We aren't going
to take them anywhere.

My crew and l
will join them.

Moshe and Dora Bloom.

Geffen.

Shamir.
-l want to ask you something.

Mother, don't speak...
-But l want...

Mr and Mrs Tzadok.

Doifman.

Greenberg. -Excuse me,
we have American visa.

Go.
-And Green Card...

Yakobson.

lda Borovitz!

We're in 1976,
do you believe that?

They call themselves
freedom fighters, Jesus Christ.

Nurit Aviv.

We'll pray for you.
-Thank you.

Doctor, if you get out first,

let the world know
what's going on here.

Quickly, darling.

Mommy wants you to have this.

Tell Mommy thank you
very much.

Go back to Mommy.

Ben-Yehuda.

Shelach.

Efroni.

Ram Weissberg.

l'll be waiting for you
in Paris. -Take care.

Naomi Tal.

Are they taking
all the Jews?

l think they're only
taking lsraelis.

Anyway, they won't mess
with Americans.

Mommy, why didn't
they call us?

Because we're not
Jewish, darling.

What's Jewish, Mommy?

The Hercules can do the job,
the problem is refueling.

Can't it be done in air?
-Not with the Hercules.

But we could do it in Entebbe.
l'd need at least 2 hours.

Two hours? Benny,
we're talking about minutes.

What are you going to do
with these people?

lt's not up to us.
-What do you mean?

lf within 24 hours the lsraelis
do not agree to our demands,

we'll start killing them.
Get out of here.

We must speak
with the Prime Minister!

He must understand
our situation.

Rabin! My mother is a hostage!

This operation you did will make
the Jews go mad all over the world

and when the Jews get mad,
the whole world is mad!

All of the people that
will turn against us,

l must talk to them now.
Guards, inside! You, inside!

You haven't even listened to me.
-No, this is Uganda here,

l am president,
it is my country,

l say l'll talk to them now!
-But we have to... -Leave it.

Trust me.

l'm a big friend of you.
-Mr President...

Excuse me, madam,
allow me to correct you.

l am His Excellency,
Field Marshall Dr ldi Amin Dada.

Owner of the British Cross,
DSO, MC,

and appointed by God Almighty
to be your savior.

Yes, Your Excellency.

Why weren't we released
like the others?

That is not up to me.

That depends on
your government.

Look, l want to save you.

But they must not be stubborn,
they must be reasonable,

they must release all these
43 freedom fighters

from the lsraeli jails.

l mean...

You are more than 100 here.
That is good business, no?

But if those terrorists
are going to be released,

they will kill
more innocent people.

That is not up to me.
-But we're in Uganda,

this is your country,
not theirs.

l am sorry,
l want to help you,

but it is up to my very
good friend, General Rabin.

And now, Shalom!

Things are getting
more complicated.

Our friend,
Dr ldi Amin Dada,

is cooperating
with the terrorists.

Then that justifies
an attack, doesn't it?

No more problems with
world opinion and such.

Yes, but l want you to know
that l've been given orders

to plan a large-scale operation,
not only with your unit.

Hold on, l don't understand.

Do you want to capture all
of Entebbe? -Just about.

What for?
-What's wrong, Yoni?

l think that...

with a large-scale operation
we'll lose the element of surprise.

There could be many casualties,
among the hostages and our men.

''The government is under heavy
pressure, as world opinion

''demands from lsrael to start
negotiating with the terrorists

''in order to avoid a disaster.

''104 lsraeli men, women and
children remain hostages in Entebbe

''as well as
the French air crew.

''Families of the hostages
demonstrated today

''outside the Prime Minister's
office,

''demanding an immediate
surrender to the terrorists demands

''in order
to save their loved ones.

''The hijackers refuse to postpone
the deadline.

''lf lsrael does not consent
to the immediate release

''of 43 of their men that are
being held in lsraeli jails,

''including murderer Kozo Okamoto

and arms smuggler
Archbishop Capucci.

''They threaten to start killing
the hostages tomorrow afternoon.''

Hello.
Avner Tal.

Prof. Tal is here.
You may go in.

Tal is on his way.

Avner, good to see you.
-Hello. -What brings you here?

Naomi is in Entebbe.

Naomi, your daughter?
-Yes.

l saw the name on the list,
l didn't realize it was her.

Look, Dan, l never
got involved in politics,

l never interfered in
decision-making,

but this time it's different.
l must see Yitzhak personally,

if only for
my conscience's sake.

l must know the government
is doing everything possible

to save the hostages in Entebbe.

l'm sure the Prime Minister
is doing his utmost.

l must speak with him.

l'll see what l can do.

Yitzhak, l know that
no other lsraeli prime minister

has ever faced
such crucial decisions.

You know me, l've been involved
in the country's security

for over 40 years, but when
we're personally affected,

we react differently altogether.

So forgive me for what
l'm about to say.

Yitzhak, do not play roulette
with the lives of our children.

Do not play roulette
with the lives of our children...

Do not play roulette
with the lives of our children...

What's the word, Rogman?

They've been in there
for two hours already.

l tell you, if these Jews
give in, we've all had it.

There'll be an international
epidemic of skyjacking.

What else can they do?
ln less than an hour

they're going to start killing
those people, one by one.

The lsraeli government has
decided to commence negotiation

for the release of
the hostages in Entebbe.

Could we have a translation
in English, Mr Zamir? -Later.

The lsraeli government has decided
to commence negotiation

for the release of
the hostages in Entebbe.

They've agreed in principle to
release prisoners held in lsrael.

ln English, please.

The government has decided
to commence negotiation

for the release of the hostages
being held in Entebbe.

We've agreed in principle to
release prisoners held in lsrael.

Questions, please.
-Mr Zamir,

was that a unanimous decision
by the government? -Yes.

More questions?

The government has been forced
to give in to the terrorists.

The Defense Minister has
asked us to immediately prepare

a convincing military
rescue operation.

How long do we have left?
-The deadline is for Sunday.

We must take action on Saturday
night. -That means we have...

two days left.

What do you think, Yoni?

We still have
48 hours left.

No good.
-They're the fastest we've got.

lt's not a matter of speed,
it's a matter of surprise.

We must reach the terminal
without being noticed.

Then let's hire
some black men,

load them on some Land Rovers,
and go!

You know what?

Forget about the black men,
but l like the Land Rover idea.

Then l've got
another idea for you.

No good.
Let's do it again.

OK, guys,
let's do it again.

Again, back to your places.

Everybody, go back.
-Come on, let's go.

How's it going?

lt's not good enough,
but it will be.

l'm counting on you.

Let's go.

OK, let's do it again.

Can l have more meat?

l thank you.

Don't eat the meat.
-lt's not bad.

lt's horsemeat.
-How do you know?

First time they've
given us knives.

What are you doing?
They all have knives!

Why were these people
given knives?

Wilfred, did you do this?

Who gave them the knives?

Everybody has knives.

Who gave them knives?
You must be all mad!

They could kill us.
Come on!

Come on, collect the knives!
Come on, quick!

Come on, quickly.
The knives...

One's missing!
l said, a knife is missing!

Give me the knife!

Wilfred!

Put your hands up,
up on your heads!

Come on, search them.

Get up, stand up here!

Turn around! Turn around!

Sit down!
Get up!

Are you the one
who had this knife?

What would you want
to do with that? Kill us?

OK, you're not going to answer me,
get out of here!

Get out of here!
Move! Get out!

Get out! Get out of here!
Get out!

She's choking,
get her some water.

Quickly. -She's choking.
She can't drink it, she can't!

Take her to the restroom,
quickly!

Come, mother.
-Lean on me.

Captain, this woman is sick.
-What's wrong, madam?

Michelle, Danielle,
come help me, quickly.

She's choking.

ls there a doctor among you?
-She's feeling very poorly.

What's your rank and regiment?
-What?

What is your rank and regiment?

l'm not a soldier,
l never was.

Call your chief!

Call your chief!
-All right! You just stay here.

What is that?
-They're my friends.

They just finished high school.

But is this you on
the tank or isn't it?

Yes, it is. -But you're
not a soldier. -No.

Yes.

What is it?
-There's trouble.

Tell me your rank and regiment!

l said, tell me your rank and
regiment! Do you hear me?

Stop it.
We're freedom fighters.

ls there no doctor here?
-What do you want?

The old woman
is sick, she's dying.

l'll see what l can do.
-The old woman is sick!

Sir, l'm warning you, it's your
duty to look after this woman,

do something, 5 minutes from now
will be too late. -Shut up!

The entire world will blame you!

Murderer.

l'll be right back.

Go get a doctor, quickly.

Hold her head.
-Quickly.

Stop! Go back!
-But she's my mother!

Good evening.
-Good evening, Your Excellency.

Good evening.
-Good evening.

l want to show you this.
Look, look.

How do you like this, my new car?
-Magnificent.

l had enough of my old
shitty Mercedes.

Get out faster.

Ready?

Go! Go! Go!

We can do it much better!
Again.

Go.

No good, no good.
We can do much better. Again.

This is the old terminal
in Entebbe.

There are two waiting rooms:
a large one and a small one.

After the separation, the lsraelis
were moved to the small one,

but we're sure they were
moved back to the large one

where the restrooms
are located.

As for the terrorists,
there are about ten of them.

We'll start with the German.

Medium height,
about 40 years old, blonde.

We'll finish tomorrow?
-God knows...

Those sons of bitches.

ls there any word from lsrael?
-They're taking their time.

Kill a few
and you'll hear them talk.

Team number one.
Yoav, here.

You'll go upstairs
and cover the second floor.

This is where
the Ugandan guards are.

Teams two and three,
Shuki and Meir, here and here.

You break in through
the main entrance.

Shuki to the left, Meir to the
right. The hostages are here.

They're guarded by terrorists.
Team number four.

Zevik, VlP room.
The terrorists sleep here.

Team number five.
Shmulik, here.

The four jeeps that arrive
later in planes two and three

will take position here, here,
here and here,

around the terminal.
l'll be here.

What do you think?
-l know it can be done.

But l'll also understand if they
decide not to authorize it.

What do you think?
-l'd find it hard to live

with the idea that we gave
into a dirty bunch of terrorists.

Let's go.

lt's good.

Now, between us,

what are the chances?

lf we don't do anything,
we definitely won't fail.

Dan, it'll work.

- Ministry of Defense -

Minister, as you can see,

the whole thing is based on
the element of surprise.

That's it.

Minister, we will hold
a dry run this evening.

Your plan is good.

lt may be bold and dangerous,
but it is certainly possible.

l will endorse it
before the government.

Mr Peres, do you think the
government will authorize the plan?

l'm sure it will.

''Blessed are You, God, our Lord,
King of the universe

''who has commanded us to kindle
the light of the Sabbath''

Amen.

Usually we say a blessing
over the Sabbath candles,

but since we don't have any,
he's using matches.

What time is it?
-Two-thirty.

Let's go get some sleep.
-OK.

Are you coming?
-Go on, l'll be right there.

Yoni...

l want to go home for
a few hours, OK? -Yes.

l hope they don't reject it.
-Me too.

What about Peres?
ls he here yet?

He's with the Prime Minister.
Sit. -And the other ministers?

They're all waiting
in the conference room.

Bring us some coffee, please.

A lot.

What are you up to?

l'm going to snoop around
the Prime Minister's office.

Relax, nothing is going to happen.
All they do today is pray.

Tomorrow morning is the deadline.
-You know what l think?

l think Rabin is going to let
those 43 prisoners go,

and that will be
the end of that.

''As You have written for us in
Your Torah, through Moses,

''Your servant, from Your glorious
expression, as is said:

''On the Sabbath, on the Sabbath,
on the Sabbath day...

l'll go give Peled a call,
you load up in the meantime,

so that if we get the OK,
we'll be ready to go.

OK. -Huh?
-Fine.

Bring us good news.
-l'll try.

Come on, guys,
let's start loading.

Hello, Benny?

This is Shomron.
What's going on up there?

We're going crazy down here.

We're all waiting, Dan.
You think l don't know?

Can't you hurry things up?
-Hold on.

What if they leave now?
-What do you mean, now?

We'll send them up.

We'll have at least 3 hours to
bring them back if needed.

Not a bad idea. First l have to
ask Motta and Shimon.

Dan, wait by the phone,
l'll call you back.

Good luck.

Hello. Speak louder,
l can't hear you.

Yes, Shomron. Got it, Benny.
Take-off authorized.

What about the mission?
-They'll notify us on the way.

OK, let's go.

l know you don't like
patriotic speeches,

but l'll say a few words,
just the same.

We're going on a mission
thousands of kilometers away

to rescue lsraelis, just because
they are lsraelis and Jews.

Because if we don't do it,
no one else will do it for us.

lt's a long
and complicated mission

and l want to emphasize
that its success or failure

depends only on us.

l believe we'll succeed and bring
these people home safely.

Good luck.

l bet they'll cancel it.
-No chance.

You know what?

lf we don't get to Entebbe,

you treat me to a movie
tomorrow. Done? -OK.

Where are we?
-What?

Where are we? -Egypt.
Down there, on the right.

What's holding up
the final decision?

They need a lot of guts
to make it.

Yes? Well done.

Sir, the mission has
been authorized. -Yes!

Number one, l read you.

We got the ''red carpet''.

Shomron! -Yeah?
-We got the ''red carpet''.

Yoni, it's been authorized.

You owe me a movie.

Boaz, Boaz!

Hello. Wait, l'll tell you,
don't hang up!

Yes, Dr Haddad.

Hello.

Hello, Yasser. What do you think?
Should we wait till Sunday?

l understand, my brother.
Thank you, my brother.

Listen, Jabbar,
wait one more day,

then kill two every hour.
Got that, my brother?

Yes, Dr Haddad.

What is this?

Well? What did Dr Haddad say?
-No more postponements.

lf the lsraelis don't start
to release our people

by midday tomorrow, we have
to kill the first two hostages.

Why don't we pick them now?
-You can start with that tomorrow.

What are you reading?
-Alistair Maclean.

He could write an amazing book
about this mission.

lt isn't big enough for him.

Compared to his heroes,
this is kids' stuff.

You know what?

l have a feeling that
if the mission is a success,

as soon as we land
back in lsrael,

people will start fighting
to take the credit.

''Success has many fathers,
failure is an orphan.''

l didn't make it up, it was
a very clever man. Kennedy.

Where are they?
-Nearly over the sea.

That's more than half way.

l hope they aren't
spotted by radar.

What's wrong with him?
-He's normal, he's afraid.

What? Where is...
-What's wrong?

Nothing.
l was dreaming.

''There are 13 hours left.

''The world is facing
another massacre,

''like the one
at the Munich Olympics.

''Starting from noon,
the terrorists will kill

''two hostages every hour.

''Tomorrow morning, the government
will convene for a special meeting

''to make a decision that will
determine the hostages' fate.

''Official sources say
that by tomorrow noon,

''lsrael will be forced
to give in and release

''terrorists and murderers for
the first time in lsraeli history.''

One hour to go. -Wake up, guys,
get your gear, one hour to go.

OK?

Yoni, what if we get there

and the hostages aren't
in the old terminal?

Then we've made a trip to Africa.
-Free of charge...

Yoni, do you think
the Migs can intercept us?

lt's very unlikely,

but if it does happen, it'll be
a very unpleasant encounter.

How about you? OK?

There's a storm
over Lake Victoria.

How bad is it?

What's going on?
-lt's what we call a storm.

Number one lands
in five minutes.

Where's the storm?
-lt just disappeared.

What's up?
-Five minutes.

Attention, five minutes!

Five minutes, guys.

lf intelligence is right,
the runway should be lit.

There it is.

God must be working
overtime tonight.

Who is this? The President?

lmpossible.
He has a Rolls Royce now.

Watch out!

No, don't do it!

Grenade.

They're here.
-Get down, Rami.

Everybody down!

Other side.

Everything's OK, stay here,
don't move! -Don't kill us.

Amir, to the restrooms!

Rami...
-They're lsraeli!

Everybody down.
Amir...

lsraeli soldiers?
How did they get here?

They're shooting everywhere,
what shall l do?

Cut the lights, you idiot!
Cut the runway lights!

Grenade!

Grenade!

What's going on?
-There was a problem.

l have two wounded.
-Badly?

l want to get them out now.

Take it easy,
we'll get them out soon.

Grenade!

Number one, what's going on
on the second floor?

There are lots of
Ugandans here.

Shoot only if shot at.
l repeat, shoot only if shot at.

Number one, do you read me?
Number one, do you read me?

Yes, Dan?

Yoni, how's it going?
-Looking good.

Good, l'll be right there.
-OK, l'm going in. -OK.

Hayim to Shuki, over.
-l read you.

Yoni's been hit, l repeat,
Yoni's been hit.

l see. Notify all units that
l'm taking command.

All units, all units,
Shuki is taking command.

How did it happen? -He was shot
from the tower. -How is he?

l can't tell yet.

Benny, hit the tower,
you hear me?

Where's Shuki?
-Over here. -Go get him.

Rami...
-Efrayim, Efrayim, come.

Shuki, how's it going here?
-We have some casualties. -A lot?

lt could be worse. -We'll start
clearing out right away.

Quiet!
-Quiet, keep quiet.

Ladies and gentlemen,
we came to take you home.

Gather your belongings
and move quietly to the plane

that is waiting
for you outside.

Those who can walk,
will do so on their own.

Soldiers will help the wounded.

Stay calm and don't panic.
-This man is wounded.

There's a stretcher here.

Keep moving, don't stop.
Make way for the wounded.

Make way for the wounded.

Are you the commanding officer?
-Yes, l am.

What about my mother?
-Same as everyone else.

But she's not here.
-What happened?

They took her to the hospital
in Kampala. -What's her name?

Dvora Bloom.
-Dvora Bloom...

Everyone onto
the planes, quickly.

Those who can walk,
go straight to the plane!

Hold the gate open. This way.
Help the wounded.

Up. Straight.
Don't panic.

Straight ahead.

Let's go. This way,
this way, ma'am.

Everyone onto the planes.

lf you're done, get on the vehicle
and we're out of here.

Get me Dan on the radio.
-Udi, this is Dan, over.

How's it going?
-The main hall is clear.

We're sending the people
to the plane, over.

Back home they're asking
about the casualties.

First count: three dead hostages
and five wounded.

Among our men: four wounded,
including Yoni.

Benny, l'm having
problems refueling,

it'll take a long time,
what should we do?

Don't wait,
refuel in Nairobi.

After you get back to lsrael,
are you still going to America?

No way, pal.

Once we get back, we'll reopen
the restaurant and that's it.

You know what's waiting
for me at home?

At worst, you'll get divorced
and marry me.

ln case you didn't notice,
flight 139 is back on route.

lsrael is a miraculous country.
-lt really is a miracle.

Cheers.

Doctor.

''Blessed is the judge of truth.''

Yoni's dead.

''David, King of lsrael,
lives forever!''

Dr. Weissberg.

The End

English: Suzy De Lowe

Subtitles: Cinematyp Ltd.