Netanyahu Tells Story of Arnon Zamora, Israeli Hero Who Fell in Hostage Rescue

Yesterday, in a heroic operation that will be talked about for years to come, the State of Israel brought home four hostages: Noa Al-Ghamani, Almog Meir, Andrei Kozorov and Shlomi Ziv. Welcome home.

I congratulate the Chief of Staff and the IDF, the Director of the ISA and its investigators, the Inspector General of Police and officers of the Special Counterterrorism Unit. Our heroic warriors worked together to charge in with live fire, eliminate the terrorists and free the hostages.

When I gave my final approval for this complex and dangerous operation last Thursday evening, I had two main things in mind. First, our determination to bring all hostages home. Second, the knowledge that we can count on our fighters, who are unmatched in the world. Yesterday’s great achievement reflects the standing of our people and, I must say, the standing of Israel’s supporters all over the world. But it was also accompanied by great sadness: the loss of an Israeli hero, a Special Counterterrorism Unit fighter, the late Inspector Arnon Zamora.

Amir Ofer served under the command of his late brother Yoni, who was killed in the Entebbe hostage rescue operation in 1976. Amir was the first fighter to storm the passenger terminal where the hostages were being held.

Here’s what he wrote about Arnon yesterday: “A few years ago I was at a performance when a wonderful young man approached me and told me he was an officer in the Special Counter-Terrorism Unit. He asked me to come to the unit and give a talk about Entebbe. Of course I agreed.”

On October 16, just days after fighting to hold off the enemy in the Western Negev, Amir wrote: “Arnon called me. ‘I have something to tell you,’ he told me. This was Arnon’s first time away from fighting in Gaza since the war began. We talked for two hours. He detailed his encounter with him and a friend at the Yad Mordechai crossing, how three RPGs had missed them by mere millimeters, how his instinct to stop and gear up a few kilometers before the crossing saved his entire army, how they fought like lions, how they had used up four rounds of ammunition on the first day, going from the crossing to Sderot, from Sderot to Ofakim, from Ofakim to Be’eri, and everywhere on the front line. Arnon told me how his heart had broken at Be’eri. He asked me many times, ‘How could you succeed and we fail?'”

I saw before me a true hero, a man of extraordinary moral character. I went home, thought about Arnon’s story, and wrote him: “It took me a few hours to process your story. You are true heroes, and your actions under the most difficult circumstances – strategic surprise, tactical surprise, fighting in areas filled with civilians, few against many – were extraordinary.”

“You have saved your country,” Amir wrote to Arnon, “and your place in heaven is already secured, more than that.”

Government Ministers,

“On Simhat Torah day, Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora demonstrated extraordinary heroism. Yesterday, on the eve of receiving the Torah, he once again demonstrated the highest act of heroism, giving his life to save his fellow countrymen. Arnon will be remembered forever in the history of our people.

Just as the Rabin Administration supported the proposal to name the Entebbe hostage-free operation “Operation Yonathan,” after the stormtrooper commander who fell in battle, I am confident that the Government would unanimously support the proposal to name the Gaza hostage-free operation “Operation Arnon,” after the stormtrooper commander who fell in battle, Israeli hero Arnon Zamora.

Our nation is blessed to have such heroes, and we will continue to do all we can to secure the return of all hostages and victory over our enemies.

The cabinet subsequently renamed Operation Summer Seeds “Operation Arnon.” Mr. Zamora will be buried at 4 pm local time in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Thousands are expected to pay their respects.

Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of his recently published e-book,The Zionist Conspiracy (And How to Join It)” is available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Not Free or Fair: The 2020 US Presidential ElectionHe is the recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship in 2018. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.