The plot of this episode closely resembles the true events of Patricia Hearst, a socialite and heiress, who was kidnapped in 1974 by a radical group. The group initially demanded a ransom in the form of food money for the needy in California, much like the demands of the fictional group in this episode who displayed similar altruistic beliefs, from their hostage's father, and again, like the fictional Ella Pierce, Patty Hearst eventually turned against her father and joined the group's cause as seen in her later participation in a bank robbery with the group.
The coordinates shown for the IDF hideout are N34° 38' 23" W118° 14' 34"