Israel's Netanyahu in Uganda to start 4-nation Africa tour

 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has kicked off an historic four-nation tour of Africa in Uganda, saying his country's raid on the Entebbe airport 40 years ago, in which his brother was killed, "changed the course" of his life.

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second right foreground, walks next to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, center left, after his arrival at Entebbe airport Uganda, Monday, July 4, 2016. Netanyahu is on a four-nation Africa tour to Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) introduces members of his delegation to Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni after arriving to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Operation Entebbe at the Entebbe airport in Uganda, July 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni lays a wreath commemorating the victims of the Entebbe raid on Sunday, July 4, 2016 (Raphael Ahren/Times of Israel)

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lays a wreath commemorating the victims of the Entebbe raid on Sunday, July 4, 2016 (Raphael Ahren/Times of Israel)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech after his arrival at Entebbe airport, Uganda, Monday, July 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera) 

RONALD KABUUBI (AFP)
"Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in Entebbe, Uganda, July 4, 2016"

President Yoweri Museveni, on the other hand, thanked PM Benjamin Netanyahu for turning a sad incident into a way of bonding with Uganda and Africa.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his arrival at Entebbe airport, Uganda (AP)

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gives a speech after his arrival at Entebbe airport Uganda, Monday, July 4, 2016. Netanyahu is on a four-nation Africa tour to Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera) The Associated Press

 Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (C.) inspects a guard of honor after arriving at the Entebbe airport in Uganda, Monday. (Reuters/Presidential Press Unit/Handout via Reuters)

An IDF band plays as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at Entebbe airport, Uganda, Monday, July 4, 2016. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera)

Ugandans wave and hold Israeli flags near Entebbe Airport as the Israeli delegation passes, July 4, 2016 (Raphael Ahren / Times of Israel)

Avi Ohayon / GPO
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at Ben-Gurion International Airport before heading to Uganda"

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Uganda for his four-day African tour.

The Boeing 767 carrying Rt Hon Netanyahu and his wife Sarah landed at 1PM local time ahead of a small ceremony at Entebbe airport.

He was received by President Yoweri Museveni, First Lady Janet Museveni, Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Vice President Edward Ssekandi and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.

Netanyahu was also given a 21-gun salute before inspecting a guard of honour mounted by Ugandan troops, UPDF.

Benjamin Netanyahu initially wanted a private visit but President Museveni wrote to him and invited him officially, according to government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo.

He will attend a mini-summit at State House, Entebbe, involving seven African leaders focusing on combating terrorism.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Zambian President Edgar Lungu and Tanzanian Foreign Minister Augustine Mahiga are expected in Uganda ahead of a summit with Netanyahu.

“Israel intends to return to Africa, just as Africa is returning to Israel,” Netanyahu told the Cabinet on Sunday.

Benjamin Netanyahu jets into Uganda today as he embarks on a five-day Africa tour, the first by an Israeli Prime Minister since 1994.

Upon arrival at Entebbe, he took part in a ceremony to mark 40 years since the Entebbe raid.

His brother “Yoni” was among those killed when Israeli commandos raided Entebbe to free Israelis who had been taken hostages by Palestinian hijackers.

South Sudan’s Salva Kiir has arrived in Uganda this afternoon for a summit on terrorism called up by Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni. 



Operation Entebbe

Beyond diplomacy and trade, the trip also has deep personal meaning for Netanyahu.

His brother Yonatan was killed in July 1976 as he led a commando raid in Entebbe, Uganda, to free passengers aboard an Air France plane hijacked by two Palestinians and two Germans.

Speaking in Entebbe, close to the site of the airport raid in which over 100 hostages were released, Netanyahu said the visit was "deeply moving" and symbolized the changing relationship between Israel and Africa.

"Exactly 40 years ago Israeli soldiers carried out the historic mission in Entebbe," Netanyahu said.

"Forty years ago they landed in the dead of night in a country led by a brutal dictator who gave refuge to terrorists, today we landed in broad daylight to be welcomed by a president who fights terrorism."

"I learned from my brother that you need two things to defeat the terrorists: clarity and courage," Netanyahu said.

Entebbe hostages come home, July 4, 1976. (IDF archives)