Netanyahu during his tour will also visit Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia and will address the Ethiopian parliament.
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“There may be other friends, but none of them exceed Israel in our proven capacity and desire to put our experience to use in helping African countries struggling against the same adversary and same enemies that want to destroy us and want to destroy you”, the PM said.
Speaking on Monday before talks with President Yoweri Museveni, Netanyahu said: “Exactly 40 years ago, Israel soldiers carried out a historic mission in Entebbe”.
“All Africa is excited by this visit and I am very excited as well”.
“Israel has been on a mission to fix its image globally and more specifically within the United Nations where the Africa group has for decades now supported the Palestinian cause, and vote in general toward that end”, said Angelo Izama, a Ugandan analyst who runs a think tank called Fana Kwawote.
Coming on a journey like this is also very important from diplomatic, economic and security perspectives and I am pleased that Israel is going back to Africa in a big way. Some of the soldiers who participated in the operation will also be present, along with relatives of a number of the commanders who have since passed away. Bursting into the terminal, the Israelis killed the hijackers along with 45 Ugandan soldiers.
Initially dubbed “Operation Thunderbolt”, the raid was later renamed “Operation Jonatan” in honour of Netanyahu.
Fondly known as Yoni, Mr Netanyahu’s brother was the only member of the 29-member assault unit that died during the operation later renamed Operation Yonatan in his memory.
Just before midnight on July 3, four Israeli C-130 transport planes flew low over Lake Victoria and landed at Entebbe after covering more than 3,600 kilometres (2,200 miles) and evading detection by Ugandan air controllers. The IDF delegation will spend only five hours at Entebbe before returning and will not leave the airport – some 11 hours of flying time, which is over twice the time they will be on the ground for the actual ceremony. However, an offer to visit the capital, Kampala, was declined due to time constraints.
Benjamin Netanyahu embarks on four-country tour, becoming first Israeli prime minister to visit continent in 30 years.
This was highlighted by the Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting at the State house in Nairobi.
Netanyahu will also meet Kenyan students who are set to study in Israel, and will also meet local evangelical Christians who are supporters of Israel.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu was greeted by Kagame and a 100-man honor guard at the airport, then headed straight to the Kigali genocide memorial.
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He later takes part in an anti-terrorism summit alongside leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Zambia, before heading to Nairobi later on Monday.
