Entebbe Veterans to Boycott State Ceremony Marking 50 Years

Dozens of veterans of Israel's 1976 Entebbe rescue mission said Thursday they will boycott Sunday's state ceremony at the President's Residence marking 50 years since Operation Yonatan. The group, including fighters who served under Yonatan Netanyahu and wounded veteran Sorin Hershko, said they would not serve as a backdrop for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while accusing the government of abandoning hostages in Hamas tunnels and objecting to government-backed IDF service exemptions. Former hostage Benny Davidson also said he would not attend. The ceremony is scheduled to include President Isaac Herzog, Netanyahu, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, survivors, bereaved families and veterans.