How did Netanyahu react to the statue of Yoni in Entebbe? The artist reveals details
Artist Itay Zalait, who created the memorial to Yoni Netanyahu in Entebbe, discusses the project's origins, messages from the Netanyahu family, and the controversy over credit.
After Uganda officially unveiled the statue of Yoni Netanyahu, brother of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a hero of the Entebbe operation, artist Itay Zalait, known for his protest sculptures, discussed the creation of the monument and the reactions within the Netanyahu family on the 103FM radio program.
"They were looking for someone and reached out to me. This is what I do. It's a special project; I happened to make several monuments this year. I needed to feel the place, so I flew to Uganda 10 months ago. I was in the control tower, right at the point where Yoni fell. That is where the monument was built," said Zalait.
"When I arrived, I felt the movement there and how charged it is. I wanted to capture the moment before the assault. I received messages from them through third parties, and I also saw that Benjamin Netanyahu posted the statue."
When asked by host Gideon Oko if the Prime Minister gave credit when posting the statue, the artist replied: "I didn't see any credit there."
The monument in memory of Lt. Col. Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu was unveiled last Saturday at the old terminal of Entebbe Airport, where he fell exactly 50 years ago during the historic rescue operation, as reported by the Kampala Post.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Ugandan Army, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni. He presented the monument as a testament to the enduring friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.
"We are unveiling the monument to Lt. Col. Yonatan 'Yoni' Netanyahu, the brave commander of the Israeli rescue force, whose leadership and ultimate sacrifice during the raid on July 4, 1976, became an enduring symbol of courage, duty, and selfless service," said Kainerugaba.
He added that the monument is a tribute to the values Yoni embodied: courage in the face of danger and dedication to protecting innocent lives. "Monuments are more than stone and bronze. They preserve memory, teach history, and inspire future generations," he concluded.
