Hagai Lober, whose son, Yonatan was killed in Gaza, speaks to the hostage families who called to intensify the protests against the government:
“Nobody will burn down my country.
We are sick and tired of the threats from the extremists.
Yes, even if those extremists have family in Gaza.
You won’t burn down the country.
It’s not in the books.
And if I have to rise against you, I will.
Millions of people view you with mistrust, discord and horror.
And only out of respect for you, are they silent.
I won’t be silent.
My son was killed in Gaza.
He went to defend and free your children, and was killed.
He left everything behind, left a wife and a nine month old baby,
And was killed.
He will never come back again. Not in any deal.
And therefore, I am allowed to tell you:
You cannot dismantle the country.
You cannot riot.
You cannot block roads.
You cannot clash with police.
You cannot call for military recalcitrance.
You cannot rattle police cars.
You cannot attempt to break into the Prime Minister’s house.
The fact that your children are hostage in Gaza,
Is painful. It’s sad. It’s slicing us all from within.
It will cause me to send my three remaining children –
To fight, to risk their lives for you.
But it does not give you extra privilege:
You don’t have the right to “remove your gloves”
You don’t have the right to curse public representatives.
You don’t have the right to scream, “Shame!”
You don’t have the right to disrupt the public peace.
You don’t have the right to block the airport.
You don’t have the right to announce an economic strike.
You don’t have that right at all.
Control yourselves, you hear?!
C-O-N-T-R-O-L
Express your opinions – and don’t scream.
Say that we need a settlement now – and don’t block the roads.
Demand the release of everyone for everyone – and don’t call for a rebellion.
Say that the Knesset should not be adjourned- and don’t threaten.
Say that Bibi must be replaced -and don’t light fires.
Say that we must hold elections now – and don’t you dare storm the Knesset.
Say that everyone has failed – and don’t even think of the possibilty of a coup.
Stop threatening this nation.
These are your opinons. We have heard them. Do not enforce them upon us.
You want to hear my opinion too?
In my opinion, Yonatan was killed because of the Oslo Accords, which some of you supported.
In my opinion, Yonatan was killed because of the disengagement (from Gaza), which some of you encouraged with banners of support at the entrance to the Kibbutzim.
And yet,
I don’t shout at you in the streets.
I don’t block your path
I don’t refuse an order
I don’t transfer my money overseas.
I don’t curse your public representatives who still support all these disasters.
I send and will send my sons to fight.
I will suppprt and will abide by any elected government, even if its opinion differs from mine.
I don’t think I have the right to destroy this beloved country.
Because now we fight.
Because now we heal.
Because now we connect.
Now is the time to look outwards together.
This is the time to show love towards one another.
And to the “Kaplanistim” (those who block Tel Aviv’s main road), to the “Brothers in Arms” (those who called for military refusal due to the reforms), to the Barak supporters and Olmert supporters who wanted to overthrow Bibi, I say:
Don’t hitch a ride on the pain of the families.
Don’t
Don’t
Don’t
Take it all back.
And know, dear hostage families,
We have not forgotten your loved ones, our brothers.
We have not forgotten and will not forget.
But enough.
Stop, for God’s sake, for the country’s sake, for victory’s sake.
And if not,
I and others will be there.
Bereaved families, injured soldiers and hostage families who think differently.
We will stand together in the face of the anarchy,
And we won’t let you.
We just won’t.”
חגי לובר