The Operation Jonathan (Entebbe) Coin

This marks the Hebrew calendar date of the rescue, grounding the event within the continuum of Jewish history.

* Original language: "ו' תמוז תשל"ו"

* Transliteration: *Vav Tammuz, Tashlav*

* Translation: "6th of Tammuz, 5736"

* Context: This corresponds to July 4, 1976, the day the hostages were freed and returned to Israel.

The solid line on the left marks the route of the hijacked Air France Flight 139: from Tel Aviv to Athens, then diverted by hijackers to Benghazi for refueling, and finally to Entebbe. It reflects the perilous journey forced on the hostages.

The dashed lines to the right and bottom trace the Israeli rescue mission: outbound from Tel Aviv over the Red Sea to Entebbe (avoiding radar and without landing en route), and returning via Nairobi for refueling and medical aid before heading back to Israel.

These four transport planes were the backbone of the operation, carrying 100 commandos, medical personnel, equipment, and the vehicles needed for the raid. Their depiction in tight formation signifies the precise military coordination required for the mission's success.

The hijacked Airbus A300 is shown on its forced journey. It represents the catalyst for the entire event—the lives of the 248 passengers and 12 crew members held in peril, and the international crisis that unfolded.

The map displays the geopolitical landscape of the operation, naming key countries (Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya) and cities (Athens, Benghazi, Tel Aviv, Sharm-El-Sheikh, Entebbe, Nairobi). It provides a stark visual understanding of the immense distance and the hostile territory the Israeli forces had to cross.

The iconic control tower of Entebbe Airport was the central structure of the airfield where the hostages were held in the old terminal building. It symbolizes the location of the crisis and the focal point of the raid.

* Original language: "אנטבה"

* Transliteration: *Entebbe*

* Translation: "Entebbe"

This car is a symbol of the mission's brilliant deception. The commandos used a black Mercedes limousine, identical to the one used by Ugandan President Idi Amin, to approach the terminal. This ruse allowed them to get within striking distance of the sentries before the alarm was raised, a critical factor in the raid's success. The figures inside represent the Sayeret Matkal commandos, led by Yoni Netanyahu.

This inscription provides the internationally recognized name of the mission and the Gregorian calendar date, making the coin's subject immediately clear.

This verse from **Proverbs 11:14** underscores the necessity of careful strategy and collective wisdom in securing victory. It resonates deeply with the intelligence and planning that defined Operation Entebbe. Appropriately, it is also the official motto of the **Mossad**, Israel’s intelligence agency.

* **Original language:** "בְּאֵין תַּחְבֻּלוֹת יִפָּל עָם, וּתְשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ"

* **Transliteration:** *B’ein tachbulot yipol am, uteshuah b’rov yo’etz*

* **Translation:** “Without strategy, a people falls; but with many counselors there is deliverance.” *(Proverbs 11:14)*

The official state emblem, featuring a menorah flanked by two olive branches, signifies that this was an act of the nation. Its placement here asserts that the rescue was a fulfillment of the state's primary mandate: to be a protector of the Jewish people, wherever they may be.

The operation was posthumously renamed in honor of its ground commander, Lieutenant Colonel Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu, who was the sole Israeli military fatality. This renaming is the central theme of the reverse, shifting the focus from the event itself to the memory of its hero.

These parallel texts provide a concise, factual account of the operation, naming the key actors (IDF, Mossad), the objective (freeing hostages of Air France Flight 139), and its tragic cost (the death of Yoni Netanyahu). This serves as the coin's official historical record.

This element symbolizes the crucial role of intelligence in the mission's success. The aerial view shows the layout of the Entebbe terminal where the hostages were held, and the camera represents the meticulous reconnaissance—reportedly including intelligence gathered by Mossad—that gave the commandos the precise information they needed to execute the raid.

This powerful scene captures the emotional climax of the operation: the homecoming. A C-130 Hercules rests on the tarmac, its ramp down, as the freed hostages are welcomed by a crowd of soldiers and family. It is a depiction of immense relief, national unity, and the profound joy of return.

A small map showing London and Paris indicates the origin of many of the passengers and the starting point of the flight. It connects the events in Uganda back to their European beginning, completing the narrative circle.