A Letter to Gadi Eisenkot

Dear Gadi,

I am taking the liberty of writing to you as one bereaved parent to another. You of all people understand the consequences of war. I am sure that the fresh scar you carry with the loss of Gal is unbearable. The added loss of two nephews is almost impossible to endure. All the glorification of political gain and fawning of those who agree with you cannot fill that part of your heart which is still bleeding. You carry it next to you for the rest of your days. You know for certain that peace does not come out of war.

Now you are faced with the difficult task of forging a better shared future for all. You speak of national Jewish values, but they should be intertwined with human Jewish values.

In the past, you stated “equal rights for all citizens,” and I can only understand from that statement you included the Palestinian citizens of Israel. In order for this statement to be true, surely you should include their democratic rights and wishes in any future government you form. This would be a brave step on your part, but then you have faced and proved yourself to be a man of valor, and also of integrity. If we are to share this land, then that is the only honest way to ensure a better future.

Since I lost David, I have devoted my life to the message of The Parents Circle – Families forum. Given that the lack of trust and empathy between the sides allows for the cycle of violence to continue, we present a different and much-needed perspective on the reasons for the violence. Through our personal stories of loss, we work to imbue both sides with a sense of empathy and understanding rather than hatred and revenge. We work to reaffirm the sanctity of human life and the need to safeguard human dignity, justice and freedom for all. With this work, I have come to realize that the pain of loss is the same for Palestinians and Israelis.

Apart from the enquiry into October 7th, it is more than urgent that you work towards ending the violence in the West Bank. All this brutality of the settlers goes without accountability. We must be aware of the repercussions in the diaspora and the excuse it provides for antisemitism.

In the past, you stated that full equality must be ensured and that all discrimination based on race, religion or sexual orientation must end.

In the words of David Grossman, author and bereaved Israeli father:

“And I know that within the pain there is also breath, creation, for doing good. That grief does not isolate but also connects and strengthens. Here even old enemies – Israelis and Palestinians – can connect with each other out of grief, and even because of it.”