Netanyahu, Yonatan (Yoni)

Yoni, son of Son of-Zion and Tzila Netanyahu, was born on March 13, 1946 in New York. In 1948, when he was two, he came to Israel with his parents. After completing his studies, Yoni returned to Israel, joined the army and volunteered for the paratroopers. In January 1967 he was discharged from the IDF, with the rank of lieutenant. A few months later, before the Six-Day War, he found himself in the ranks of the army in reserve duty. Yoni participated in the Um-Katef battle (Sinai) and in the battles of Darbashia and Gilbina in the Golan Heights. About four hours before the end of the war, while trying to help a wounded friend, Yoni was hit by a bullet that smashed his elbow. Yoni was operated on three times with his hand until he was trained to operate it, though not completely straight. After the Yom Kippur War, Yoni wanted to specialize in the fighting methods of other IDF forces, and at his request he was assigned to the Armored Corps, where he commanded an armored company on the Golan Heights during the War of Attrition with the Syrians. Yoni also planned, prepared, and trained the rescue force to release the captives in Entebbe, wherehe commanded the force and reached the Entebbe terminal where the captives were held, and the daring mission was crowned with success that amazed the entire world. On July 4, 1976, during the battle that developed with the soldiers of Uganda in Entebbe, Yoni was injured and killed. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.