I want to be an objective journalist. Is that even possible, at this time, in this country?
I want to think that everything should have been done to return the kidnapped ones much earlier, and that the family of the kidnapped ones is entitled to think that Netanyahu is to blame for not returning them sooner; that with all due respect to security considerations, first of all, those who are dying in the Hamas tunnels should have been returned, and only God knows how they will return, and whether it will be possible to allow children under the age of 18 to see the sight of their faces, without breaking their hearts forever.
I want to understand those who claim that even if an agreement that would have been signed a year ago was less good for the country, perhaps even dangerous for us and certainly for the residents of the surrounding area, the step should have been taken. I am even willing to listen to those who claim that Netanyahu did not take the step, not because he thought about the security of the residents of the State of Israel, but because he feared for his coalition. Although I have not seen that a similar fear led him to quickly enact a conscription law as demanded by the haredim - but I am still willing to listen to the argument. There is no way in the world to prove that it is wrong, and there is also no way to prove that it is right.
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I am willing to believe that the chants of "boos" last night in the square were not planned, that the demonstrators every Saturday and every opportunity "truly" intended to express their pain for the abductees who have not yet returned, that the chants stemmed from a painful and aching heart, from immense joy over the return of the abductees tomorrow, but from an inability to hear words of praise for those who they believe are responsible for all the evil we have endured in the past two years.
I am willing to accept the opinion (also the halakhic one, by the way, as MK Degel Hatorah ruled) that the return of the kidnapped should have been carried out 'at any cost' - "and afterwards, fight Hamas as much as necessary." Because we are Jews, compassionate sons of compassionate people, people whose hearts are incapable of seeing terrible suffering in the tunnels and remaining indifferent. I am not sure that this would have been possible in the style of the deals that were offered to Israel in the past, and I am still willing to understand people who shout "everyone, now," without thinking about tomorrow, about the terrible danger that might be posed to the State of Israel.
but.
I can also understand the hearts of those who claimed (some of whom are parents of kidnapped children) that there is no choice, that we must use reason over emotion, that we must not act out of emotions, that we must not accept the continued rule of Hamas in Gaza.
I can also listen to those who believe that taking land is the most painful thing for Arabs, the same ones who watched the videos of the horrors and immediately roared that revenge must be taken. I am against revenge, but I can understand where it comes from, and why some people believe that it is the logical step after the horrors of slaughter, burning, killing, strangling and starvation.
I think the people in the 'Kikar Hatofim' put pressure on us that helped bring the hostages home, and then I think they only did harm because that's not how you negotiate. Simply, because you have to show that you're not eager.
I feel like giving Einav Tsengauker a huge hug and then saluting Zvika Mor. They are both so right. My heart goes out to both of them.
It's a miracle that I'm not sitting in the cabinet in these fateful days, when the fate of souls is your responsibility. It's just a shame that I'm a journalist who's supposed to sit on panels and say what I think - when my opinion is so divided.
I want 'both and'. My heart is torn, it is both 'with' and 'with'.
Isn't there such an option in the world of media? Please tell me that it's possible, that it's not a fairy tale.
