The Jewish Museum of Oporto in Portugal opened a permanent exhibit last week dedicated to Operation Thunderbolt, Israel's historic 1976 hostage-rescue raid in Entebbe, Uganda, according to B'nai B'rith International.

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The exhibit is "aimed at educating young Jews about the many counter-terrorism actions that the Israel Defense Forces and Mossad have undertaken in the past," President of B'nai B'rith Portugal Gabriela Canterg said.

Israeli Ambassador to Portugal Raphael Gamzou said that the display teaches "that neither distance nor logistics would ever prevent Israel from doing the utmost to save the lives of its citizens."

Operation Thunderbolt was a successful counterterrorism hostage-rescue mission carried out on July 4, 1976, by an elite unit of Israeli commandos, led by Yonatan Netanyahu, at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Netanyahu, the brother of Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu, was killed during the operation.

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org

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A memorial service was held Wednesday at the gravesite of Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, former PM Benjamin Netanyahu's brother, who lost his life 45 years ago during Operation Entebbe, a successful counterterrorism hostage-rescue mission carried out by Israeli commandos at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on July 4, 1976.

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The service was held on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem and was attended by family and friends, including Netanyahu, now the opposition leader, and his wife Sara, as well as President-elect Isaac Herzog and many Likud members.

Herzog, the main speaker at the event, described the late officer as the symbol of bravery in Israeli ethos.

"In the 45 years since Entebbe, Yoni has become engraved in our hearts and minds as a symbol of a soldier, a fighter, a commander, a brother and leader, to look up to and learn about courage and heroism," he said.

Maj. Gen. Shai Avital, who served in a unit that was under Netanyahu's command during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, recalled how instead of being paralyzed with fear during a fierce battle with the Syrian army, Netanyahu led his soldiers with bravery and a clear mind, inspiring his soldiers to continue fighting.

"Such descriptions are an example of Yoni Netanyahu's legacy," Herzog noted. "He was a fearless fighter who had the courage to stand up to the enemy, a commander whose soldiers became stronger under his daring leadership, a man whose every action and decision in life were an expression of heroism and an Israeli who did everything to protect his home, country, birthplace and people," he said.

"My family and I would like to thank all of you for coming today, and you, President Isaac Herzog, for your accurate and uplifting words," Netanyahu said at the end of the ceremony. "It's been 45 years since we lost Yoni. Had he lived, he would be 75 years old and would have so much to contribute to the State of Israel. I want to say that there is not a single day that I do not think of him. Not a day when I do not remember him."

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