1976-1977

World History 1976- 1977

Raid on Entebbe, Apple II, Zaire Turns Back Angolan Invasion, Elections in Pakistan, Sadat in Jerusalem, Labor Party Lost in Israel, US gives up panama Canal, Carter Pardons Draft Evaders

1976 Raid on Entebbe " Opertaion Thunderbolt" On June 27, an Air France jetliner was hijacked to Entebbe, Uganda by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Once there, the hijackers demanded the release of terrorists held in Israeli prisons. Jewish and Israeli passengers were separated from the rest of the captives. The terrorists threatened to begin killing the hostages on the evening of July 4. In a daring commando operation, Israeli forces traveled 2,000 miles and landed at the Entebbe airport. They rescued the hostages and killed the terrorists.

1976 Apple II Introduced Apple Computer, a newly formed computer company, introduced the Apple II personal computer. Apple II was the first serious home computer, and would result in a desktop computer revolution throughout the world.

1977

1977 Zaire Turns Back Angolan Invasion A small force of Angolans invaded the Shab province of Zaire. The Zairean forces proved ineffectual, so 1,500 Moroccan troops -- transported by the French and financed by the Saudis -- were flown in to turn back the Angolan invasion.

1977 First Elections Held in Pakistan The first general elections held under civilian rule took place on March 7. Zulfikar Bhutto's Pakistan People Party won most of the seats in Parliament, but after charges of fraud, he agreed to hold a new election. Before it could be held, the army staged a coup and ousted Bhutto.

1977 Labor Party Loses Election in Israel The Labor Party lost elections for the first time in Israel’s history. Menachem Begi n, the leader of the Likud Party, became the Prime Minister, replacing Yitzchak Rabin.

1977 US gives up Panama Canal The continued American ownership of the Panama Canal resulted in growing protests in Panama, which were echoed throughout South America. President Carter supported reaching a treaty with Panama to return control of the canal.

On September 7, the United States and Panama, under the leadership of General Omar Torrijos, reached an accord that would return full control of the canal to the Panamanians by the year 2000. Under the terms of the treaty, the United States maintained the right to defend the canal after that point. There was strong opposition in the Senate to the approval of the accord, but the President ultimately prevailed by a small majority.

1977 Carter Pardons Draft Evaders Close to 10,000 men who opposed the Vietnam War and evaded the draft were pardoned by President Carter in one of his first acts in his new administration.

1977 Sadat Comes to Jerusalem In November, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat arrived in Lod Airport, becoming the first Arab leader to visit Israel. Sadat's visit served to break the psychological barrier that had seemed to prevent Arab leaders from making peace with Israel. During the course of his visit, Sadat visited Yad Vashem (Israel's Holocaust Memorial) and the Mosque of Omar, and addressed the Knesset (Israel's Parliament). Sadat's visit marked the beginning of a process that finally ended the 30-year war between Israel and Egypt.