Straight Talk

Can you believe what’s happening to our society? I am disgusted, outraged, and deeply saddened. Netanyahu and those who follow him closely, with their nationalist and messianic visions, are leading Israel down a terrible path where the values that have always defined us are being sacrificed. And make no mistake, this path leads directly to historical infamy.

Recently, Yehuda Shlezinger, a journalist from Israel Hayom, appeared on “Morning News” with Niv Raskin and openly defended the torture and rape of a Hamas militant. Yes, he said it bluntly, that he “couldn’t care less about what they did to that guy,” referring to the militant who was brutally abused by five reservists at the Sde Teiman detention center. And the most revolting part? The entire panel remained silent. No one dared to oppose him. Only Josh Breiner from Haaretz had the decency to speak the truth: “The soldiers are accused of rape!”

Even in the face of such a serious accusation, Shlezinger remained unfazed. He claimed that the only flaw was that these brutal methods are not officially sanctioned, saying “they deserve it” and that “it’s a great form of revenge and could serve as a deterrent for us.” What kind of society are we becoming, where war crimes are justified as revenge?

What pains me the most is knowing that few of those who read this text will feel the same anger and profound sadness that Josh Breiner and I think. Most will remain apathetic, perhaps even agreeing with this horror. And that both outrages and deeply saddens me because it means we are losing something essential—our ability to feel, to be outraged, and to defend what is right.

I understand that many who support these ideas might be reading this now. I know that the constant sense of threat might seem to justify any action for you, but we need to talk. We are destroying the moral fabric that keeps us united. We cannot allow our anger and pain to lead us to cross lines that should never be crossed. Because by doing so, we are losing something far more valuable than any military victory: we are losing our humanity.

By choosing this path, Netanyahu and those who follow him risk what we are as a people. This is not just any political struggle; we are talking about who we want to be and what we want to leave for our children. And we, who are witnessing this era, have the responsibility to resist, to question, and to work tirelessly to preserve the values that have always defined the true spirit of Israel.

I will not remain silent in the face of this barbarity. I will continue to fight for a society that values justice and humanity above all else because that is what it means to be Israeli.

And for those of you who have read this far and still think they “deserve it,” let me explain something. Living in society means accepting that everyone is subject to the same laws and rights, even the most despicable. When we allow torture and rape to become acceptable weapons, we forfeit our humanity. This isn’t about defending the enemy but protecting the principles that make us human. If we become monsters to fight monsters, we’ve already lost the most important battle: the battle for our soul. We need to keep our humanity intact, even in the darkest times. That is what sets us apart; that is what truly keeps us strong.

I say this with a heavy heart because that is how I feel: outraged and deeply saddened but also determined and determined not to let Israel lose its soul. And if you, reading this, feel the same, then let’s fight together to hold on to what makes us human.