Untie those yellow ribbons: They’re meaningless

Not long after October 7, the families of those held hostage in the Gaza Strip began distributing dog tags calling for an immediate deal to bring their loved ones home. The dog tags were very distinctive, indicating a clear symbol of service – and responsibility – to one’s country. And vice versa.

Very quickly, though, people wanting to make a quick buck took notice and issued dog tags of their own. They were for the hostages, yes – but also for IDF soldiers, Israel in general, the Jewish People and just about any wartime issue worthy of support. They quickly diluted the symbol for bringing the hostages home.

Soon, the families turned to a more recognizable symbol: the yellow ribbon. It signified waiting for a loved one’s return. Yet now we see the ribbons everywhere – even on the lapel of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He doesn’t wear it all the time. Only when he can leverage it.

And leverage it he did as he addressed a joint session of the US Congress on July 24.

With that bright yellow ribbon on his lapel, he spent time emphasizing (and rightly so) the horrific October atrocities carried out by Hamas and other Islamic groups, and by civilians who swarmed over the shredded border barrier to murder, loot and plunder, and to make off with hostages of their own.

Sporting that ribbon, Netanyahu emphasized (and rightly so) the other H groups – Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis – both of which have opened fronts of their own against Israel, ostensibly in support of Hamas. He also stressed (and rightly so) the role of Iran, the mothership for all these groups.

He introduced Noa Argamani, the former hostage whose filmed abduction came to symbolize to the world the horrors of October 7. Her presence at the Capitol was made possible by a daring and heroic rescue that cost the life of a senior officer from the Israel Police’s elite hostage-rescue squad – something he proudly (and rightly so) emphasized.

Also among his guests was Iris Haim, whose son Yotam, he stated, “bravely escaped Hamas captivity with two other Israelis, and tragically they were killed making their way back to our lines.” Left unsaid, though, was the darker side of the story: the fact that the three were shot dead by exhausted and confused Israeli troops as they warily approached those lines.

“We have with us also the families of American hostages. They’re here,” he noted. “The pain these families have endured is beyond words. I met with them again yesterday and I promised them this. I will not rest until all their loved ones are home. All of them.”

WITH THIS, the yellow ribbon fairly burst off his lapel. Yet it is no secret where Benjamin Netanyahu’s priorities lie.

He mentions the return of the hostages, but only after promoting his belief that Hamas must first be vanquished, explaining that this, and not a deal, is what will result in their return.

“Total victory,” he calls it – whatever that means – even if it costs the lives of hostages and many more soldiers. This is because total victory is what his hardline coalition partners seek, and he needs them to help save his political career. (And god knows how long it will take to reach “total victory,” for Netanyahu conveniently says that a commission of inquiry to identify the parties guilty of letting October 7 happen can take place only at the end of the hostilities.)

So the hostages clearly are not Netanyahu’s top priority. Perhaps not even his next highest priority – after all, his only goal in going to Capitol Hill was for a photo op to fire up the many disillusioned voters back home, where avoiding jail time for corruption by rehabilitating his tattered political image is his true concern.

Don’t be fooled: The good of the State of Israel does not figure at the top of any of Netanyahu’s to-do lists. He might genuinely want the hostages back – it’s doubtful that anyone in Israel doesn’t want them back – but they do not ride at the top of his priorities.

Which is sad, because when those yellow ribbons first appeared after the dog tags were appropriated by the profiteers, they meant one thing: Bring the hostages home. Now and no matter what the cost, be it troop withdrawals, the release of imprisoned terrorists, whatever.

None of this is new for Israel. It might be painful, but it is quite doable. Yet now you see these ribbons on the lapels of people who for sure want the hostages back – but not at any price. So the ribbons have lost their meaning.

WE CAN NO LONGER rely solely on symbols to bring about the return of the hostages. We must spell it out in clean and readable letters and words, leaving no doubt where we stand: “Home. Now. No matter what it costs.”