Final Post

In this final blog post I am going to recommend a book that I did not actually read on the trip. I read The Letters of Yonatan Netanyahu when I was in high school, which is a collection of actual letters between Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu and his various family members over the course of his lifetime. For those that don't know, Yoni Netanyahu led the rescue operation by Israeli commandos in what is now the old airport in Entebbe, Uganda to free over 100 Israelis taken hostage by terrorists when they're plane was hijacked. The operation was considered an enormous success, but in the last moments Yoni was shot and later died, one of the only casualties amongst the Israelis. The reason I'm talking about Yoni and the book is because before I flew back to Israel, from Entebbe, I was able to visit the old airport site where the rescue took place. (Pictures are in the album named Kampala and Entebbe)

When I arrived at the new airport I asked some of the airport security officers if it would be possible to visit the site of the hostage rescue. The first guy I asked said no, but the second one was more than happy to take me. I got a airport security badge and went off across the runway to the old airport site. The old airport site has had a new building added on in recent years and is the location of a massive UN logistics camp, which I'm told is the largest in East Africa. The original building is still there, and has barely been touched since the raid in 1976. All the bullet holes are still there, and the only real difference is the addition of a plaque commemorating the raid and honoring Yoni Netanyahu put up just last year. I was extremely moved just being at the site itself, let alone driving down the same runway the Israeli C-130's landed on, and seeing the far end of the airport where Yoni was shot during the last moments. I think it was a good of an end to my trip as I could have asked for. The Letters of Yonatan Netanyahu is an extraordinary book, and while you won't learn about the Entebbe raid in it, but there are no shortage of books on that subject, you will gain insight into a remarkable human being.

I'm back in Tel Aviv now, and I've got to re-start my life in here in a lot of ways, but I'm very excited about it. I'm less excited about the oppressive heat and humidity, but I got through the last few summers, I can manage this one too...I hope. After some time in Africa you kind of forget what a "developed" country looks like and while it wasn't a big shock to see the big buildings of Tel Aviv, its a little weird. Tel Aviv might have a bigger economy than entire countries I've visited. The economic gap is astounding between Burundi and Malawi, for example, and Israel, let alone the US.

Last night my friend David and Alexandra were married in Jerusalem, and it was a very nice wedding. They did not know that I'd be showing up, still thinking I was in Africa, clearly not readers of my blog:-), and it was a nice surprise for them. The wedding was a lot of fun, and a great event to have upon returning to Israel. Mazal Tov to Dave and Alex.

While this blog is complete with this final post, I've very much enjoyed the whole blogging process, and have been thrilled with the amazingly positive response I've recieved from y'all over the blog. I'm going to keep blogging on the issue of the genocide in the Congo, Darfur, and mass violence in general in Africa, which overall continues to be underreported throughout the world. Not quite sure what the direction of the blog will be, but if you're interested in viewing the blog, the address is: violenceinafrica.blogspot.com. I would also like to start a blog updating the status of the beloved Mr. Chocolate, although I think he deserves a website devoted to him. I have to figure out how to do that now too.

Anyways, to end the blog on a completely un-Africa related note, I just saw the first two episodes of The Office that I had missed while abroad, and the show is the funniest thing that's ever been made. Actually...I just realized this is not an entirely un-Africa comment, since one of my favorite conversation topics with other mzungus in Africa was The Office. I've discovered you can laugh just as hard recounting the Beninhana Christmas Special episode the first time in Malawi as you can for the tenth time, several months later in Uganda.

Lehitraot, ate logo y que les vaya bien, Ben