The martyrs of Caesarea and real meaning of Israeli victimhood

In the annals of human suffering, certain events transcend the ordinary bounds of tragedy, forcing us to reevaluate the very concept of victimhood. For decades, we’ve naively assumed that loss, pain, and destruction are measured by lives shattered, families torn apart, or communities erased. But recent events in Caesarea have unveiled the true face of suffering—an unthinkable horror endured by none other than Sara Netanyahu, Israel’s most under-appreciated heroine.

Forget the murder of 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023, the thousands maimed, and the hundreds still held hostage in Gaza. These pale in comparison to the terror unleashed on the Netanyahu family when a pair of flares—a vile, targeted assault—were launched near their opulent Caesarea villa by anti-government protesters.

Let us not dismiss the severity of this crime simply because no one was home at the time. Or because no one was injured. Or because there was, in fact, no damage whatsoever. The emotional wounds inflicted by the idea of a flare approaching their property are scars that may never heal. This is, indeed, the true tragedy of our times.

It is, quite frankly, appalling that Sara Netanyahu has to ask to be recognized as a terror victim. Where is the humanity? The justice? The understanding that the sanctity of the Netanyahu household is Israel’s moral backbone? While families of the October 7 massacre bury their dead or clutch onto fading hopes for their kidnapped loved ones, Sara Netanyahu must endure the torment of a nation so blinded by lesser tragedies that it fails to acknowledge her unimaginable suffering.

The time has come for us to set aside our misplaced priorities and focus on what really matters: the recognition, restitution, and commemoration of Sara Netanyahu as a victim of terror. Her courage in the face of this unspeakable hardship deserves more than just token sympathy. It demands action.

We must not stop at simply granting her official recognition. Let us honor Sara in the grand way only a grateful nation can. I propose a nationwide “Netanyahu Solidarity Movement” to provide the support necessary to ease the trauma she has endured. Imagine it: rallies across the country, candlelit vigils at the gates of her Caesarea estate, and schoolchildren learning about her resilience alongside accounts of Israel’s fallen soldiers. Surely, these are sacrifices of equal weight.

In fact, let’s declare a national holiday—Netanyahu Victim Day—to remind us of the horrors they have faced. Flags could fly at half-mast while Israelis gather in solemn reflection on the injustice done to their leaders. A “Sara Netanyahu Trauma Rehabilitation Center” could provide support for citizens grappling with the lesser indignities of life, like bad traffic or late dinner reservations, inspired by Sara’s unyielding strength.

Some cynics—shamefully so—might point to the families of hostages still held in Gaza. These “whining” relatives, clutching photos and staging emotional vigils, have let their grief overshadow the real victims of this era. Their pain is undeniably self-centered compared to Sara’s quiet grace under pressure. While they demand international intervention, the Netanyahus endure their ordeal without complaint, simply asking for the recognition they so richly deserve.

And what of Prime Minister Netanyahu himself? Do we not see the toll this has taken on him? While hostages sit in darkened tunnels and thousands of wounded Israelis navigate rehabilitation, Bibi must carry the unbearable burden of leading a nation too distracted by its own suffering to acknowledge his.

The truth is clear: October 7 pales in comparison to the ongoing trauma inflicted upon the Netanyahu family. The thousands mourning their dead will, in time, rebuild their lives. But who will rebuild the Netanyahus’? Hostages may eventually be freed, but who will free Sara from the mental shackles of neglect by her ungrateful nation?

This is a call to arms, my fellow citizens. Let us put aside our petty grievances—our murdered relatives, burned homes, and missing loved ones—and rally behind the Netanyahus. Light your candles. Raise your voices. Open your wallets. Stand with Sara. Stand with Bibi. Stand with the true victims of terror.