Yoni - Heroes of Entebbe by Max Hastings

I have promised some junior officers to recommend some books that speaks of exemplary leadership. One such book was the first book that I read as part of my professional reading programme in the service. Here a book review that I have written for it. It comes complete with personal reflections too.

Introduction

Israel is perhaps one of the most miraculous of all nations having survived the Holocust, re-established as a nation and surrounded by hostile Arab nations that threaten their sovereignty and sought for their destruction. They fought in wars like the Six Day War, Yom Kippur War and in wars of attrition by continued acts of terrorism even till today. All these achievements would not have been possible without the Zahal, or the army of Israel have been tried and tested in these times and stood firm in its ground.

The Zahal, a largely conscripted force not unlike the SAF have proved itself on the battlefield, preserving the independence of the Jewish people. Like any capable armed forces that achieved continued successes in the battlefields, it is not by mere chance but more because of the remarkable military leaders that serve in her army. This book written by Max Hastings, an acclaimed journalist and TV reporter, present a post-mortem biography of one of Israel’s greatest military leader of the modern times – Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu

Synopsis

“There are times when the fate of an entire people rests upon a handful of fighters and volunteers. They must secure the uprightness of our world in one hour.”
“This young man was among those who commanded an operation that was flawless. But to our deep sorrow, it entailed a sacrifice of incomparable pain: that of the first among the storming party, the first to fall. And by virtue of the few, the many were saved, and by virtue of one who fell, a nation bent under a heavy weight rose again to its full height.”

- Shimon Peres, Defense Minister delivering Yoni’s Eulogy

Colonel Yonatan Netanyahu, affectionately known as Yoni was only thirty years old when he perished in this last and final operation at Entebbe, an old airport in Uganda. It was a daring, hostage rescue operation conducted miles away from Israel that amazed the world, giving credence to the elite forces of the Israeli Army.

Apart from being the commander of this operation and the leading man of this operation, Yoni led an exemplary life that was very much an ideal of a military man and a patriot. Born in the family of Benzion Netanyahu, his father was a scholar of the Zionist movement that sought to gather all of the Jewish people to establish a Jewish state in the land of Israel. Young Yoni had the same vision and passion that was instilled within him like his father and grandfather, having soaked up the rich history of the Jewish people and the Jewish land.

As a young man shuttling between America and Israel, Yoni excelled in schools wherever he went and was a brilliant student in the eyes of all his teachers and peers alike. He returned to serve his compulsory conscription at his due age and again showed the same excellence as he did in his academic pursuits. He was selected as a paratroop, Israeli’s elite and crack unit otherwise known as sayeret.

He was selected to be trained as an officer and became in every aspect what that title represented. He was one who led by example, always maintaining a clear head and one who was highly motivated that it led to the high standards that he would set for his soldiers and units under his command and for himself. He was a quiet and introspective man that was often with his books in his spare time and would write extensively to his loved ones like his parents, his brothers, his girlfriend and later ex-wife Tutti and his second-love, Bruria.

Yoni’s greatest love however was the land of Israel, a fierce and fearless passion and love for the land of Israel, its every ridge and hills, deserts and plains. It was such a great love for Israel that Yoni had put aside his own dreams and pursuits of his degree at Harvard, to return to Israel to serve in the Zahal because of deep belief that it was vital that he contributed to the preservation of the Jewish State.

He had completed his conscription service and remained in Israel to work for a while and during the Six-Day War that began on the June 6, 1967, he was mobilized like the rest of the men to fight off the Arab aggressors. He took a bullet wound to his elbow during the war at the point when the war was ending and went to America with his girlfriend and soon to be wife Tutti to stay with his parents and pursue his studies at Harvard. However, he soon became unhappy and desired to return to Israel and was to sign up for regular service in the Zahal. He returned to one of the units of sayerat as a training officer and sometimes led reprisal operations on Fatahs, Arab guerillas that constantly plagued Israel with acts of terrorism and destruction.

Yoni was an extraordinary officer and was once commented by one of his superiors as those that come only once a lifetime. He was respected by all his men and senior officers for his relentless dedication to the Zahal, Israel’s defense and her survival and soon found himself rising through the ranks and assuming command of a paratroop battalion before the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War.

His performance in this war awarded him with a medal that Israeli army were not known to give freely, but he did not really cared for the medal. He was more perplexed at the prevailing situation that threatened Israel, even after the war. He no longer hold that mystical faith that the Zahal alone could ensure a future for Israel and yet at the same time he was distressed by the political situation in Israel and of the inconsistency of Israel’s Western allies. He was one who detested the fighting and yet would fight to the bitter end and had every belief that Israel’s army would prevail against her enemies.

He was assigned to take up a command of a tank battalion after Israel lost many of their valued tank commanders in the Yom Kippur War and even in this area, he proved himself an excellent commander. He was recommended to take over a brigade command but sought to return to his original dream of taking command of a crack paratroop unit. It was with this unit that Yoni served his last tour of duty and left behind his own personal unfulfilled dreams of completing his degree in Harvard when he perished at Entebbe.

Personal Reflections

I could not have been more glad that I have chosen this book as the first book that I would read for my professional reading. I have been awed, moved to the very core of my spirit by this account that was written of this man that I slowly grow to respected.

It instills in me the very purpose of why I have chosen to serve in the military in the first place. Born and bred in Singapore myself, I love this island state that we live in and from my youth, I have developed a love of this country because of the example that my father has set in his own life. However, I had never considered playing a role that I would now play in maintaining the sovereignty of this little nation.

Singapore, not too different from Israel, is a small country that is surrounded by many bigger and larger neighbours that could potentially threaten her existence. Constricted by the limited population size, we too employ the use of a conscripted army to defend our nation in addition to a small, but functional regular armed forces. Like Israel, we can hardly count on foreign intervention to safeguard our nation and our own people are necessary for the defence of this country.

However, Singapore unlike Israel has never faced the need to be called to arms. Although glad and thankful for the peace and stability that our nation have enjoyed over these years, it has however made us complacent despite being untried and untested. Singapore does not have the rich heritage and history of the Jewish people and as an immigrant country, it struggles to create a national identity which the government so often tries to create to ensure the Singaporeans themselves take ownership of their part in Singapore’s future.

Yoni’s was appalled at the youth of America, in their attitude towards the support of their country’s causes and yet maintained the awe of her technological advancement and organizational competence that Israel sorely lacked. I find myself in the same sense of dismay when I see the attitudes of young male Singaporeans with regards to their sense of duty. Even now as I serve in a regular force with the Navy, the commitment and drive that is required of a competent armed forces are sorely lacking in most people. What I find however is more of people propelling themselves out of the military in search of financial wealth rather than self-actualizing on their jobs. I question myself if monetary gains should be the core of the motivation behind the armed forces and wonder how the sense of duty can be cultivated among the servicemen and people of Singapore.

I dare not claim that I have a relentless fervour and passion for Singapore but at the very least, I believe in my duty and know the role that I play and how I am to work with all my comrades-in-arms to defend the country in the day when the need arises.

With Yoni’s example, I learn and understand that the preservation of this nation does not only lie in the military might that a country possess because it can prevent you from being taken but it alone does not stop people from trying. It supported by a myriad of factors that include diplomatic skills of the government, economic strength and an uncorrupted government. All of these, by the wisdom of our leaders have already been identified and so effectively implemented. I reckoned that one of Singapore’s hallmark for success is the concept of Total Defence that even though at times seem to be a farce but is truly not.

On a more personal note, I identified with Yoni’s quiet and introverted character. I took often feel burdened by my own failures and my quest to seek answers and balance in my own life. I am even more so determined not to follow Yoni’s example of a failed marriage. Yoni was often afflicted by a loneliness that struck him again and again because of how deeply his considered his life and the people and events around him. I too would often fall into nostalgia in my moment of introspect but thankfully my joy has been maintained by my love and fervour for Jesus Christ and His consistent love for me.

I found that Yoni wrote immensely in the form of letters and as it was a catharsis process for him, I found that the same applied for me. The letters not only allowed a window for the people whom Yoni loved deeply and care about to know his innermost thoughts, desires and dreams, it was also spoke to him when he materialized his inner conflicts as he resolved them in the process of writing. I have grown to appreciate the written records and journals that I have kept and of the letters that I have written to my friends, family and loved ones.

Last but not least, I have learnt innumerable lessons of leadership from reading the account of Yoni’s life. I have been inspired by Yoni’s relentless pursuit of excellence in himself and being truly professional in his work. His passion and loyalty to his country was without question the very core of his core values in which he led his life. It led to his professionalism, fighting spirit, discipline, ethics, fighting spirit and care for his soldiers, the same SAF Core Values that we desire. There are even observations that I have drawn from his life that he has not achieved. One of it is the need for a leader to impart and replicate after himself and that people follow and pick up the trail where he has left off. In the words of Peter Senge, the founder of the learning organisation, there is a need to develop people within the organization with a shared vision.

This book has inevitably led me to believe in the professional reading program that such a gem of a book has been recommended and picked for young officers to read. With this, I understand that the military seeks not only to build me in my professional knowledge but also in the building of my moral fibre and the moulding of my character to become a future leader of this nation.


Well, that was me at a young age of 21. Some things have become real for me while other reflections I am still struggling to keep. In any case, it was a wonderful to have re-read my book review and the reflections that I had in my youth.