Gaza Boat Organizers Have Violated the US Neutrality Act

Israeli Civil Rights Center Warns US Attorney General:
Gaza Boat Organizers Have Violated the Neutrality Act

The Israeli civil rights group, Shurat HaDin, has sent an urgent letter to United States Attorney General Michael Mukasey, warning him that the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), and others, have conspired to violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960, in their efforts to organize a boatlift to the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip.

In the letter sent by Shurat HaDin director, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, it is alleged that the organizers of the "Gaza Ship" illegally solicited and raised donations in California to fund the purchase of several boats which they plan to sail into Gaza on August 5th. The boats are reportedly set to travel from Greece with ISM members on August 1st.

Since the Hamas terrorist organization seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, Israel has initiated a blockade to prevent the smuggling of illegal weapons to the terrorists. The letter expresses concern that the boats will be carrying weapons, explosives and other contraband to Hamas officials.

The Neutrality Act provides that:

"Whoever, within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes part in, any military or naval expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."

The letter to the Attorney General charges that the ISM has openly solicited and obtained financial support for this hostile operation against Israel in violation of the Neutrality Act and urges the Justice Department and the FBI to launch a full investigation into the funding of the boats and to prosecute those involved.

"For too long the American supporters of Hamas have raised funds in the US to finance their efforts to obstruct Israel's abilities to fight the Palestinian terrorist groups, stated attorney Darshan-Leitner, "We are urging the Attorney General to investigate this blatant violation of the Neutrality Act and prosecute the organizers of the Gaza boat operation who are seeking to illegally smuggle weapons and explosives to Hamas."

For a copy of the letter to the Attorney General and other information please contact attorney Darshan-Leitner:

(US) 212 591 0073

Email: media@israellawcenter.org

Stop ISM Boats Before They Blow Up in Our Faces!

Israeli Citizens Action Network ICAN
For Volunteer Public Diplomacy

Dear ICAN members,

Regarding the pending immense media threat posed to Israel by the "Free Gaza" boat campaign we really must try to get info into thenewspapers and to our political leaders as soon as possible. One of our members, Dr. Mike Cohen of the Jewish human rights organization Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, who initiated this action, has suggested the following:

1. Google "gaza boat" using the Sort by date with duplicates included option at the top right hand side - and start calling their own local media outlets that are covering the story. ask for the reporter by name based on the google results or call your local ap or reuters and tell them about the neutrality act violation.

Several entries refer to an Australian who is at the center of this – those of you there should be priming the media in Australia - same goes for friends in Europe, especially Greece.

2. Call your representative's office in Washington and urge them to put in an urgent call to the USAG's office. Tell your representative's office that the only way to prevent another Rachel Corrie incident is to prevent the clash from happening. Tell them that this is a "made-for-media" provocation that is supported by violators of USA law and that the USAG can stop the boats if he moves quickly to freeze the assets in California.

3. Get everyone in the family and their friends to do the same

We all have a unique opportunity here to really help Israel by preventing a media disaster before it happens. Bombs do not announce themselves, neither do bulldozers - but here, we know what is going to happen - lets do what we can to defuse the bomb before it is placed in theatre!!

Mike can be contacted at 904 501 6585 or at mike@gogalil.com for advice and assistance for those of you in the United States or Canada.

Stuart Palmer
Director, ICAN

Gaza Boat Organizers Violate U.S. Neutrality Act

In an urgent letter dispatched to The Hon. Edmond G. Brown, Attorney General of the State of California, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center (http://www.israellawcenter.org/) alerts the AG that the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), and others, have conspired to violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960, within the boundaries of his state.

Attorney Darshan-Leitner writes in her letter that the organizers of the "Gaza Boat" program have violated the Neutrality Act by illegally raising money in California to bankroll two boats which they plan to sail into Gaza on August 5. The boats are reportedly leaving Piraeus, Greece with ISM members on board on August 1. Based on prior experience, serious concerns that the boats will be carrying weapons, explosives and contraband have been raised by security experts.

The U.S. Neutrality Act that is codified in section 960 of title 18 of the U.S. Code, stating:

"Whoever, within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes part in, any military or naval expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both."

According to the project website as archived by Google on July 24, 2008 - The Carter Center of former US President Jimmy Carter and the Archbishop Desmond Tutu have both endorsed the project (www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=40027 ). According to news reports, the Carter Center was also involved in the funding of the project.

Shurat HaDin's letter charges that the organizers have openly solicited support for the hostile expedition against a friendly nation in violation of the U.S. Neutrality Act and urges the attorney general of California and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to launch a full inquiry into the funding of the flotilla and to prosecute all those involved to the full extent of the law should the allegation prove true.

Folllowing the map is the full letter to the AG

==================

Attorney General Edmund G. Brown
Office of Attorney General
California Department of Justice
P.O. Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
Via Fax:

Dear Attorney General Brown,

Re: Conspiracy to Violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960

Dear Attorney General:

I am writing to bring to your attention to a serious matter regarding what might be an ongoing conspiracy to violate the U.S. Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. § 960, and an attempt to aid & abet the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas which is occurring within your jurisdiction with the support and under the direction of an organization known as "The Free Gaza Movement," located at 405 Vista Heights Road, El Cerrito, California 94530.

The Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas is currently designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U. S. government. In June 2007, Hamas ousted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party from the Gaza Strip and subsequently took power where it has engaged in a relentless campaign to obtain weapons and explosives and to terrorize both Israelis and moderate Palestinians.

As a result of constant rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel's coastal cities, on September 19, 2007 the Israeli government declared that "Hamas is a terrorist organization that has taken control of the Gaza Strip and turned it into hostile territory." Similarly, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice affirmed "Hamas is indeed a hostile entity. It's a hostile entity to the United States as well."

In an effort to prevent Hamas from obtaining any additional military equipment and to impose economic pressure on the Hamas leadership in Gaza, the Israeli Security Cabinet imposed a series of sanctions on the Gaza Strip including a coastal blockade that is being implemented by the Israeli navy.

The naval blockade is particularly important in light of previous attempts by the Iranian government to transfer weapons to Palestinian militants at sea such as occurred in January 2002 when the Israeli navy seized the "Karine A" ship that was loaded with 50 tons of Iranian supplied weaponry.

There are several provisions within the agreements signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority that grant Israel the right to implement a naval blockade on the Gaza Strip. Specifically, the September 28, 1995 Israeli- Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip that was signed in Washington D.C. states in Article XIV that Israel has "the responsibility for defense against external threats, including . for defense against external threats from the sea and from the air."

Moreover, in Article XIV of the Interim Agreement titled "Security along the Coastline to the Sea of Gaza" Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed that foreign vessels would "not approach closer than 12 nautical miles from the coast" unless specifically authorized pursuant to jointly agreed regulations and that in the absence of such conditions all foreign vessels would be required to dock at Israeli approved ports. (Because there are no international ports open to foreign vessels in Gaza at this time, it is currently illegal for foreign vessels to attempt to dock in Gaza without explicit Israeli authorization.)

Finally, in a letter to Prime Minister Sharon on April 14, 2004 shortly before Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip President Bush confirmed "[t]he United States understands that after Israel withdraws from Gaza and/or parts of the West Bank, and pending agreements on other arrangements, existing arrangements regarding control of airspace, territorial waters, and land passages of the West Bank and Gaza will continue."

Nevertheless, despite the clear unequivocal policy of the United States to support Israel's right to control the security of the territorial waters around Gaza and to isolate Hamas from external support, the extremist Free Gaza Movement is attempting to undermine the foreign policy of both the United States and Israel by raising money to violate the Interim Agreement regarding foreign vessels and to undermine Israel's sovereign authority.

On The Free Gaza Movement website located at www.freegaza.org requests are being made to finance a "Break the Siege ship" that is tentatively set to sail in August 2008 (See also http://freegaza.org/pages/joinIn.html#aboard). According to information on its website the ship "will sail directly to Gaza without going through Israeli territory and without seeking permission from Israeli authorities."

However, because Israel has exclusive security authority over foreign vessels that are attempting to dock in Gaza, The Free Gaza Movement is openly soliciting support in this country for a hostile expedition against a friendly nation in violation of the U.S. Neutrality Act that is codified in section 960 of title 18 of the U.S. Code. This law states:

Whoever, within the United States, knowingly begins or sets on foot or provides or prepares a means for or furnishes the money for, or takes part in, any military or naval expedition or enterprise to be carried on from thence against the territory or dominion of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States is at peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

As such, the actions of The Free Gaza Movement are nothing short of an attempt to violate the laws of State of Israel and to engage in conduct that has the effect of undermining the national security of a U.S. ally.

Consequently, I respectfully request that your office take all necessary and appropriate actions to uphold the laws of the United States, to investigate those that are organizing and funding this illegal effort and to enjoin any unlawful activity on the part of The Free Gaza Movement.

Thank you,

Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Esq.
1.917.519.9340
info@israellawcenter.org
http://www.israellawcenter.org/

Mega Lawsuit Against PLO & Imprisoned Fatah Leader

Fourteen relatives of terror victims have filed a "mega lawsuit" for 450,000,000 NIS against the Palestinian Authority (PA), the PLO and imprisoned Fatah Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti this morning. In addition, the suit named seven other terrorists who are currently serving sentences for their involvement in numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians as defendants. The lawsuit was filed in the District Court in Jerusalem.

The plaintiffs are relatives of Ronen Landau z"l and Yoela Chen z"l, residents of Givat Ze'ev, who were murdered seven years ago in two separate terrorist attacks near the community of Givat Ze'ev (north of Jerusalem). Ronen Landau, age 17, was murdered in an ambush on the Ramot-Givat Ze'ev road, while driving with his father in a car, on his way home from a movie in Jerusalem. Yoela Chen, age 45, was shot from short-range next to the 'Givonim' gas station near Givat Ze'ev, on her way to a relative's wedding.

Marwan Barghouti, head of the Fatah Tanzim, who is currently serving five consecutive life-sentences plus 40 years for his responsibility in numerous deadly terror attacks, was the commander of the terrorists who carried out the murders of Landau and Chen. The Tel-Aviv District Court has already convicted Barghouti of Chen's murder. Ahmed Barghouti, Marwan's accomplice in planning the terror attacks and in organizing the terrorists who carried out the shootings, is being charged as well.

The Landau and Chen families are represented by attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat Hadin - Israel Law Center, which represents terror victims in lawsuits against terror organizations in Israel and around the world; and by attorney Roy Cohavi of Shurat Hadin - Israel Law Center.

The families contend that Marwan Barghouti organized the terror attacks against Israeli civilian targets and conspired with senior Fatah Tanzim terrorists, who were in charge of actually carrying out the attacks - including the ones which killed Landau and Chen. As such, Barghouti enacted the predetermined policy of utilizing terror, confirmed before the launch of the 'Al-Aqsa Intifada' by the PA and Yasser Arafat, to whom Barghouti personally reported.

According to attorney Darshan-Leitner: 'We are demanding that the court set a high and painful price tag for the physical injuries and emotional damages inflicted upon residents of Israel by the terrorists, so that the Palestinians will understand that Jewish blood is not cheap. We have conclusive proof tying the PA and its senior officials to these terror attacks near Givat-Zeev, as well as many other attacks. We also have clear evidence of Marwan Barghouti's personal responsibility for the murders of Ronen Landau and Yoela Chen. Barghouti is a convicted criminal and murderer and should be treated as such. Barghouti's involvement in these heinous crimes should always be remembered, especially these days when some politicians call for this mass murderer's release from prison. Securing justice for Landau and Chen's families against the Palestinians is securing justice for all the residents of Israel.'

For More Information:

(ISRAEL) 0523-837020

(ISRAEL) 03-7514175

(US) 917-519-9340

Email: media@israellawcenter.org

Web: http://www.israellawcenter.org

Terrorist Was Head of Hamas "Charity"

Palestinian terrorist who shot and wounded an Israeli civilian near the Israeli community of Yaqir on July 7, 2008, has been identified as Mahmoud O'ttaman Mahmoud A'azi, 48, from the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan.

A'azi was the head of the Islamic Charity Foundation, which serves as a source of funding for Hamas' terror activities, in his village, and in the past was among the heads of the terror organization in the Samaria region. An IDF officer, who was moderately wounded by the terrorist during an exchange of fire, identified the terrorist's location, opened fire, and killed him.


Source: IDF Spokesman

For further reading see:

IICC report "War on financing terrorism"

Israel MFA: Hamas's use of charitable societies to fund and support terror

To learn what has been done in the past few weeks by civilians just like us to stop terror financing see:

Relatives of terror victims file NIS 450m suit against PA, Barghouti
Ha'aretz, Israel - Jul 24, 2008

Survivors of 2006 Hezbollah attacks sue 2 banks for $650M
Los Angeles Times, CA - Jul 14, 2008

Victims of Hezbollah attacks sue Lebanese-Canadian Bank
StarPhoenix, Canada - Jul 8, 2008

Victims of Hamas and Hezbollah Sue Swiss Mega-Bank UBS for Helping Fund Terrorists
FoxNews, USA - May 13, 2008

To learn how you can become part of the war against terror financing, see:

http://israellawcenter.org/template.php?section=DN

151 Months in Prison for Domestic Jihad Terrorist

Second Man Involved in Domestic Terrorism Plot Targeting Military, Jewish Facilities Sentenced to Prison

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man recruited to join a domestic terrorist cell that was plotting to attack United States military facilities, "infidels," and Israeli and Jewish targets in the Los Angeles area as part of a "jihad" was sentenced today to more than 12½ years in federal prison.

Gregory Patterson, 24, of Gardena, was sentenced to 151 months in prison by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney. Last month, another man recruited into the terror plot, Levar Washington, 30, was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Patterson and Washington pleaded guilty in December to conspiring to wage war against the United States and a weapons charge. Patterson also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence

The man who organized the terror cell – Kevin James, who formed the group he called Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, or JIS, while in a California state prison – also pleaded guilty last year to the terrorism conspiracy charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2009.

In plea agreements filed in federal court, James, Washington and Patterson admitted that they conspired "to levy war against the government of the United States through terrorism, and to oppose by force the authority of the United States government."

The fourth member of JIS named in an indictment – Hammad Samana – has been found unfit to stand trial and is currently receiving psychiatric care at a federal prison facility.

After forming JIS in 1997 while in state prison, James recruited Washington into the organization in late 2004 while both were prisoners at New Folsom Prison, where James had Washington swear an oath of loyalty and obedience to James and to JIS. After his release from prison several weeks after taking the JIS oath, Washington recruited Patterson and Samana into JIS and had them swear oaths of allegiance and obedience to JIS. After forming this cell, Washington and Patterson conducted about a dozen armed robberies of gas stations to obtain money for the group’s planned attacks in the Los Angeles area.

Samana researched targets and prepared a document called "Modes of Attack." The document listed "LAX and Consulate of Zion," "Military Targets," "Army Recruiting centers throughout the county," "Military base in Manhattan Beach" and "Campsite of Zion."

After Torrance Police Department investigators linked Washington and Patterson to a gas station robbery, various Jihadist documents were found at a South Los Angeles apartment where they lived. In addition to the "Modes of Attack" document, investigators discovered a document titled "Notoriety Moves," which contained a James-authored statement to be given to the media after a deadly attack. The proposed press statement reads, in part, "This incident is the first in a series of incidents to come in a plight to defend and propagate traditional Islam in its purity." The document also warns "sincere Muslims" to avoid a series of targets, including "Those Jewish and non-Jewish supporters of an Israeli state."

The investigation into the terrorist conspiracy was led by the FBI's Long Beach Joint Terrorism Task Force, whose participating agencies include the Los Angeles Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Torrance Police Department; the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; the Long Beach Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Los Angeles Port Police; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the Redondo Beach Police Department.

Substantial assistance during the investigation was provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Bureau of Investigations; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the California Department of Justice; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations; and the Department of Defense.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office worked collaboratively with the United States Attorney’s Office during the investigation.

AMEX Bank Sued by Terror Victims

85 Victims of Hizbollah Terrorist Rocket Attacks File Unprecedented Civil
Suit Against American Express Bank in New York Court

First American Correspondent Bank to be Sued for Aiding Terrorist Organization Facing $650 Million in Damages

Eighty five American, Israeli and Canadian victims of Hizbollah terror attacks have filed an historic civil action in the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan against American Express Bank Ltd. (“AMEX Bank”) and the Lebanese-Canadian Bank SAL (“LCB”). The suit, Licci v. American Express Bank, requests $650 million in compensatory damages and an unspecified sum of punitive damages.

Amex Bank, headquartered in New York, serves as one of LCB’s correspondent banks the United States, and in that capacity processes LCB’s dollar transactions. LCB’s main office is in Beirut, and it has branches throughout Lebanon and a branch in Canada.

The plaintiffs, whose family members were killed or who were themselves injured by rocket attacks fired at northern Israel by Hizbollah in the summer of 2006, allege that AMEX Bank and LCB unlawfully executed millions of dollars in wire transfers for Hizbollah between 2004 and 2006. The plaintiffs assert that Hizbollah used the funds transferred by Amex Bank and LCB to prepare and carry out the rocket attacks which the terrorist organization rained on Israeli cities between July 12 and August 14, 2006.

The plaintiffs rest their claims in part on written findings issued by the New York State Banking Department last year, which determined that AMEX Bank had failed to establish adequate procedures to prevent terrorism financing as demanded by state and federal law. This is the first lawsuit brought by terror victims against an U.S. financial institution that serves as a correspondent for a bank in Lebanon.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Robert J. Tolchin Esq. of New York City, and Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Esq. Director of the Shurat HaDin - Israel Law Center human rights organization of Israel.

Attorney Darshan-Leitner stated that: “Hizbollah is a financial giant which is deeply entrenched in the Lebanese banking system. Any U.S. bank that serves as correspondent for a Lebanese bank may well be aiding and abetting Hizbollah terrorism, and runs the risk of serious civil liability. U.S. correspondents for Lebanese banks owe it to themselves and to their shareholders to carefully examine and re-evaluate their relationships with banks in Lebanon.”

According to attorney Tolchin: “There will be more suits to come against Lebanese banks and their U.S. correspondents.”

A copy of the complaint is available here:
http://www.snapdrive.net/public.php?action=download&id=33e970e810c4

Hizbollah Terror Victims Sue Canadian Bank

Canadian Victims of Hizbollah Missile Attacks File Historic Civil Action Against Lebanese Canadian Bank

MONTREAL, July 7 /CNW/ -- Canadian victims of Hizbollah terror attacks have filed an unprecedented civil action in the Quebec Superior Court (docket number 500-17-043962-086) against the Lebanese-Canadian Bank (LCB) in Montreal. The plaintiffs, all of whom were injured in Northern Israel in Katyusha rocket attacks, allege that LCB unlawfully provided financial services to the Hizbollah terrorist organization by allowing charity groups affiliated with Hizbollah to transfer funds prior to and during the attacks on Israeli cities in 2006.




The law suit contends that since 2004, LCB permitted the Yousser Company for Finance and Investment and the Martyrs Foundation, two Lebanese terrorist groups, to open and maintain accounts and to freely transfer many millions of dollars of Hizbollah funds and to carry out millions of dollars in financial transactions, within and without Lebanon, by means of wire transfers, letters of credit, checks and credit cards provided by LCB. LCB, it is charged, facilitated Hizbollah's terrorist activities and is liable to the plaintiffs for the harm that has been inflicted upon them and their families in the rockets attacks.

This is the first civil action brought by Canadian victims of Hizbollah's rocket attacks in a Canadian court.

The plaintiffs are Sara Yefet, Shoshana Sapir and Rochelle and Oz Shalmani.

The families are represented by attorney Jeffrey Boro of Montreal, Professor Ed Morgan of the University of Toronto's International Law and Counter-Terrorism Project and attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of Israel.

Hizbollah used the financial services which it was provided by LCB in order to build its terrorist infrastructure, to train, pay and equip its terrorist operatives, and to carry out terrorist attacks. LCB's management and employees had full knowledge that Yousser and Martyrs are part of Hizbollah's financial arm and that the financial services were being provided to Hizbollah, a violent terrorist organization.

Both Yousser and Martyrs have been designated by the U.S. Treasury as terrorist organizations. The fact that the two groups are part of Hizbollah's financial arm is notorious public knowledge in Lebanon.

According to attorney Darshan-Leitner, director of Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center: "LCB knew that both charities are part of Hizbollah's financial arm and that by providing them banking services they were really assisting the Iranian backed terrorists in Lebanon perpetuate their rocket attacks against civilians. This law suit is only the beginning of the uncovering of Hizbollah's extensive financial network in Canada."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Telephone: In USA: 1 917 519 9340.
Telephone: In Israel: 052 383 7020
Email: media@israellawcenter.org


For further information: Israel Law Center, +1-917-519-9340,
media@israellawcenter.org Web Site: http://www.israellawcenter.org/

Happy Entebbe Rescue Day!!

July 4, 1976 - IDF pulls off one of the most daring rescue operations in history - blows US Bicentennial off the headlines. In memory of Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu who gave his life for the safety of others.

On June 27, 1976, four terrorists forced an Air France Airbus to land in Uganda, in the heart of distant Africa. They quickly demanded that Israel release 53 convicted terrorists. The hijackers freed the French crew and non­Jewish passengers, while retaining 105 Jewish and Israeli hostages. A 48-­hour deadline was set before executions would begin.

Faced with little choice, the Israeli government announced that it would enter into negotiations. This bought the precious time needed to consolidate a seemingly impossible military option. A new ultimatum was issued for 13:00 on Sunday, July 4.

The only airplane capable of a rescue operation was the C­130 Hercules. On July 1, the mission's overall commander, Brig. General Dan Shomron (later to become the IDF Chief­of­Staff), presented his plan to the IDF Commander and Israel's Defense Minister. The next day they all witnessed a full­scale dress rehearsal. The incredible was deemed possible.

Shomron's plan was based on several advantages that the Israelis had over the terrorists. The Entebbe airport at which the hostages were being held was built by an Israeli construction firm, which was able to provide Shomron with blueprints. Moreover, the released, non-Jewish hostages were able to describe the terrorists, their arms, and their positioning. As a result, the IDF decided to send in an overwhelmingly powerful force: over 200 of the best soldiers the army had to offer participated in the raid, all of them heavily armed.

Finally, the element of surprise was probably the biggest edge that Israel held. According to Shomron: "You had more than 100 people sitting in a small room, surrounded by terrorists with their fingers on the trigger. They could fire in a fraction of a second. we had to fly seven hours, land safely, drive to the terminal area where the hostages were being held, get inside, and eliminate all the terrorists before any of them could fire." The fact that no one expected the Israelis to take such risks was precisely the reason that they took them.

The aircraft took off at 13:20 on July 3 and headed south. Only then was the plan revealed to the Israeli Cabinet, which decided to let the operation continue. The lead Hercules carried the rescue force, led by Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu. It also held two jeeps and the now famous black Mercedes, a perfect copy of dictator Idi Amin's personal car. Two additional Hercules carried reinforcements and troops assigned to carry out special missions, such as destroying the Migs parked nearby. A fourth Hercules was sent to evacuate the hostages.

The air package also included two Boeing 707's. One acted as a forward command post. The second, outfitted as an airborne hospital, landed in nearby Nairobi, Kenya. The Hercules was escorted by F4 Phantoms as far as possible-about one­third the distance.

Skirting thunderstorms over Lake Victoria, the Hercules transports neared the end of the 7­hour, 40­minute flight. A surprise awaited them: the runway lights were on! Despite this, they landed undetected at 23:01 (local time), only one minute past their planned arrival time.

The soldiers freed the hostages in a lightning attack, killing all eight terrorists in the process. Tragically, force commander Yoni Netanyahu was killed as he led the hostages toward the safety of the aircraft; additionally, two hostages were killed in the crossfire inside the airport. The other squads accomplished their missions in virtually the same time as during the "dry­run." By 23:59 the planes were on their way home. The operation, which was predicted to last one hour, in fact took only 58 minutes.

The mission struck a blow at international terrorism. "It resonated far and wide," Shomron later commented. "It showed that you could counter terrorism, and that it was worth cooperating to do so." As America celebrated its Bicentennial, the world was reminded that freedom is a value which must be fought for in every generation.

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Source: Israel Defense Forces
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