News
Battling against ‘the falsification of history’
Josh Hamerman
Published: 02.04.07, 11:53
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
20 Talkbacks for this article
1. Role Model For Todays Youth.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (04.02.07)
His letters should be required reading in our schools - something not likely to happen under our current Minister of Education. The members of our Knesset could benefit from reading it as well.
2. Entebbe Raid
John Cunningham ,   Haverford, PA, USA   (04.02.07)
We need to be reminded of this story. I wonder if an air France crew would today do the same thing? Just sayin'.
3. Hamerman is just as biased
Merle ,   Raanana, Israel   (04.02.07)
In particular, casting a dubious political light on the whole issue ("true" Zionist vs. post-Zionist, - read lefties) injects the very poison into the matter that the author claims to be trying to cleanse. It is certainly not below bb politics to use his hero brother to his political advantage.
4. Merle's Bias is showing!
Kevin ,   Hod Hasharon Israel   (04.02.07)
Where in the article is "true zionist" mentioned??. I quote “In his letters, his views are clearly the opposite of those of the ‘post-Zionists.’ The attempt to besmirch the Netanyahu name continues ad nauseum - even trying to ascribe to Bibi, him attempting to gain political capital from the death of his brother who was a true GIBOR of Israel. Shame on you and this on the eve of Pesach - the festival of Freedom for the Jewish people!
5. Merle, are you a post-Zinist? Just asking.
AK   (04.02.07)
There would be nothing dubious about interjecting Zionist vs. post-Zionist positions by the author, if he indeed did so-- which he didn't-- since the issue is more relevant in israel today than ever before in Israel's existence. And perhaps not so strangely, after Teddy Kollek revelations, the post-Zionist leanings of the Left (perhaps not all Left, but the big chunk of it) are a sad fact that no longer surprises, but must be questioned.
6. who planned it doesnt matter
zionist forever   (04.02.07)
It doesnt matter if Yonni did the planning or somebody else did they were a unit they all played a vital role in making thre mission a success. The people who put pen to paper dont matter its a not a contest to see who can form the best tactics and so everybody who took part should just keep quiet and keep it to themselves special forces are not supposed to tell the world about what they do. Its a shame though that Israels politicians today wouldnt have the courage to propose a rescue mission like this they would be more concerned about public image abroad.
7. Betser
peter ,   amsterdam, NL   (04.02.07)
Quote article:"...Muki Betser, who for 20 years claimed that he, not Yoni, planned the operation, and that Yoni’s actions during the rescue almost caused its failure, making him responsible for his own death as well as the deaths of three hostages." I would've liked to hear more specifics about this Betser's side of the story and why "...Until recently, virtually the entire Israeli media stood behind him in his attacks on Yoni...". Is this is simply a lack of professionalism or is it the New Historians 'post-zionism' that is supported across the board of the Israëli press? It reminds me somewhat of the different evaluations(hero/insubordinate) of the actions of Ariël Sharon during his active duty in the army. I ended up thinking he was both and the difference is interpretation. History and journalism should both be about uncovering 'facts', comfortable or not, balanced and as much as possible independent of the 'political' convictions of the day so people can make up their own minds.
8. I have an idea why...
Inyaki ,   Bilbao, Basque   (04.02.07)
I believe that Betser just wanted to hurt Netaniahu family, and managed to do it. The rest of the press also think that by hurting Yoni's memory they hurt Bibi. This is very sad.
9. heroes
debbie ,   no,la   (04.02.07)
isn't this always the case?you build em' up and then tear em' down.This poor man sacrificed his life in that raid and then others try and discredit him. He is and will be a hero to many.
10. That's why natanyahu cannot lead, cause it's about vengence
rami   (04.02.07)
in a conflict that involves the lives of millions of israelis and pals, natanyahu is a fanatic warmonger cause he's taken it seriously and never moved on beyond his brother's death despite the 20 times more pals killed. Leading a nation requires showing statemanship and leadership: NOT what natanyahu about cause to him it's about VENGENCE.
11. Yoni the Glorious Hero
Caroline ,   Israel   (04.02.07)
I read the article with satisfaction. For many years the memory of Yoni Netanyahu has been turned into oblivion. It is clear that at a certain degree this was done with the intention to harm Bibi because of his political strength. This is un unfair approach and hopefully there are still enough honest people in this country to restore the due respect to our hero.
12. To no 10
Y ,   N   (04.02.07)
Does the number count? What difference does it make that as you say ten times more palis than jews have been killed in the conflict. If each side had the same number killed would that be ok? The difference i numbers just show that Israel tkes care of their own and the palis dont. Have you seen any jewish children among the idf soldiers when they are fighting the palis?
13. rami, your comment is off the wall
AK   (04.02.07)
natanyahu already led Israel and there had been absolutely nothing in his leadership then as has been nothing since to indicate that has been motivated by vengeance. Perhaps vengeance and resentment is all yours.
14. To Peter in Amsterdam
Little Miss Muffett ,   Sitting on a Tuffett   (04.03.07)
If you want to know more about Betser, do a search on Ynet -- they ran an article/interview with him last year. Also search on Haaretz. Also, he wrote a book called "Secret Soldier" that you might want to read. Very interesting book that deals with Entebbe and other glorious (and some not-so-glorious) Sayeret Matkal exploits. As for my own impression of Betser, he seems kind of cocky, but probably that goes with the territory when one is in a unit like Sayeret Matkal (just like Blue Angels pilots in the U.S. are reknowned for their cockiness.)
15. to 12
hani   (04.03.07)
yes, but i did not make this hidious rule unfortunately. ACCORDING to israelis the numbers count through their actions cause eveyr time an israeli got killed they killed 10 pals, sometimes who had NOTHING to do with it. After munich when 11 isrlis killed, they bombed a refugee camp killing 60 pals & the list is long. of course the excuse is always ready "terrorist camps" even though they are in europe..if u wanna call such barbarism "taking care of their own" fine, to me it means, vengeance based on arrogance saying jewish blood is more precious than the other. be honest and think about it and tell me i am wrong. i wish u would mean it when u say that #s don't matter cause i'd be the first one for that. As for the pals kids in harmsway.... i don't know what u smoke, but last time i checked, pals police where not patroling in jewish neigbourhood, but IDF is wondering in WB towns creating friction with pals kids, cutting their olive trees & distroying their economic future & livelihood. the whole comparison is silly cause u're armed to ur teeth and we're not, it's hard to "take care of ur own" when we're under an occupation that prevents us from getting arms, let us get F16s and apaches and we'll show u how we "take care of our own". This is a cynical statment i don't mean rather making a point that ur comments deserve. Both ppl are paying the price for Natanyahu's reneging on wye river agreement & baracks similar actions. if u read natanyahu's book, after OSLO, u will conclude this guy NEVER believed in peace even before any suicide operation started. To him it's all a power trip & vengence. He only believed in big israel. If u wanna call that vision & leadership, then he's certainly succeeded playing on ur cords & catering to ur beliefs.
16. This petty new breed cannot measure up
Bernard Ross ,   st. anns bay,jamaica   (04.03.07)
todays post zionists like olmert and peres must seek to denigrte the heroes of the past because they do not have the character and guts to measure up. they are a petty breed that is bringing rot to Israel. If the jews cannot be grateful, and fight for, what god has led them to then it isonlynatural that they must once again wander in the wilderness of the Sinai. Israel needs character, it needs to return to it's zionist roots.
17. Ya Yuni #15, If you say terrorists are not in refugee cambs,
Jalal ,   Gaza Kassam Rebublic   (04.03.07)
then where are they? I can tell you, they are hiding under my Umm's skirt afraid of Izrail. All these are criminal, rabists, thieves, murderers, heroes only with us the beoble or when they fire Kassams. It makes no difference Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, BRC too. Enough is enough, we the Gazan beoble want Izrail back.
18. betzer
solemnman ,   nahariya   (04.03.07)
After reading Betzer's autobiography I concluded that Betzer was a self serving narcissist.
19. Frightening
SL   (04.05.07)
It is frightening to consider the strong possibility that Yonatan Netanyahu's views could have prompted the secular leftist Israeli media to back the preposterous claims of someone seeking fame at the expense of fact, and who apparently would not mind defaming the late hero of Entebbe. By the way, he was not the only Israeli soldier to die in the operation.
20. Post zionists are the kid in the school yard
Steven Wilson ,   Anchorage, Alaska   (04.08.07)
who gets slapped around for money from every bully in the yard. If only the poor kid had enough money....he could pay all the bullies off. In the end....there is never enough money and Israel is given away to its enemies piece by piece. The moral of the story for Israel's and America's left wing idiots. There is no peace through trading your land and freedom away. Negotiations just delay the date of your death.....or your grandchild's, who takes your place on the battlefield to fight your war. The one you forgot ot fight through negotiations that saved your life. You will have to fight these terrorists whether you like it or not. We will also. Get on with it. The Muslims aren't stopping their plans on account of a bunch of Jews, or Americans, who want to negotiate a war away for the next generation to deal with.
Back to article