MK Kati Sheetrit of the Likud, who returned to Knesset work today (Monday) after undergoing emergency surgery about two weeks ago, addressed the families of the abductees during a discussion in the Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women in the Knesset.
""To the families of the kidnapped, I want to say - look, one morning I woke up. I was supposed to speak to you in plenary. I receive the speech and suddenly I stop seeing in one eye," she said.
""I was rushed into surgery, the recovery is very long, I can't get dressed, I can't shower, I can't do things I did before. Why am I telling you this? Because I understand so much how your world suddenly turned upside down like this.
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""Do you remember sitting and having a cup of coffee with your kidnapper, the most trivial thing, and suddenly you miss it so much? So I want to tell you how much my heart goes out to you and I know what you're going through.".
""I'm really trying in every way possible to do everything I can in my little piece of God, but I want to tell you how much I understand you and the need to see your loved ones right now.".
Her words caused a stir, and some claimed that she was not sensitive enough towards the families in the comparison she made.
She complied: "It is clear to me how unsuccessful the wording was. No medical procedure of any kind is comparable to the suffering, helplessness, and coping of the families of the kidnapped and the kidnapped themselves. From my personal perspective, I tried to identify, express empathy, and emphasize how much I understand the pain of the families and how clear it is to me that a sudden event can shake your life. I am sorry if there are those who were hurt. It was never my intention to hurt, belittle, or minimize the pain and situation of the families of the kidnapped. I embrace the families and will continue to do everything I can to ensure the speedy return of their loved ones.".
Last month, Sheetrit was rushed to the hospital and announced on her Facebook page that she would be absent from a meeting on the kidnapping issue, due to her health condition.
""In recent hours, I have been preparing to deliver a speech as a representative of the Likud faction in the Knesset plenum, which is convening a special session on behalf of the abductees. Unfortunately, due to an emergency surgery that I must perform, I am unable to deliver my remarks. I am publishing the remarks here because the issue of the abductees is paramount," she wrote at the time.
