President Reuven Rivlin and First Lady Nehama held an event in honor of wounded IDF veterans and victims of terror at their residence today.
Sagi Benau, a soldier who recovered after being wounded on the Gaza border, and Uzi Mor, who was wounded during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, spoke during the tribute. Among the guests were IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, Bituah Leumi director Shlomo Mor Yosef, Defense Ministry direct Dan Harel, Terror Victims Association head Yehoshua Cohen, and representatives from the Disabled Veterans Association, wounded veterans, and victims of terror attacks.
President Rivlin opened his talk by commenting on the symbolic meaning of the date, November 29, and Israel's ongoing struggle. He told about the memory of the same night in which the UN voted in favor of creating a Jewish state: about the celebrations throughout the country, and how the fight over the Land of Israel still continues today. "Our path here has not been easy. But we must remember and remind everyone that we created a state in order to live here, and we will be here forever."
He continued: "Over the past few months, since the start of the current campaign, I have been visiting hospitals, taking part in funerals that each break my heart, and visiting bereaved families across the country, all for both soldiers and civilians. They cry and I cry with them. The pain is very physical, a pain that hurts the heart. Every person who is hurt, every one that is wounded or murdered, every family whose world has collapsed, adds to and increases this massive pile of pain, until it's almost impossible to carry."
Rivlin commented on the current wave of terror and the incitement that accompanies it: "We are facing a system that has no name, and is driven by hatred and incitement. Who can you call a 16-year-old girl armed with scissors, who leaves her school and attacks an old Palestinian man, a terrorist? How can we talk about a 13-year-old boy armed with a knife, who tries to murder a Jewish boy his own age, a terrorist? A criminal? How do we deal with an enemy who fights in order to strike terror into our hearts?
"In these moments we must remember, even those whose world-view leads to criticizing the Israeli government, that our side is the moral one, and right is on our side. We must not be tempted by easy and populist solutions that have no true value."
Uzi Mor and Sagi Banao, with President and First Lady Rivlin. Credit: Mark Neiman
The President continued: "We must consider our steps with bravery and with wisdom. Only thus can we confront our enemies, who choose to educate their children through incitement and hatred. Who choose darkness. Who openly choose murder and bereavement. To our Palestinian neighbors - I call on you from here - stop the incitement, stop the lies, there's another way. ISIS's pornography of death is not the way.
Rivlin spoke about the difficulties in rehabilitation and the long way towards returning to a normal life, which the wounded must face. "I look at you, soldiers and civilians, fighters and bystanders, and see the heroism, the daily coping with wounds and with recuperation. I see the path you have taken, and know how much difficulty still remains. There are many others among our sons and daughters, the wounded of Israel, who will tell of their heroism, stories of battles and of pain, which accompany them and us at all times. They remind us that the existence of our state cannot be taken for granted. They remind us that the price is steep.
"I look around and salute you all - the wounded of Israel and those harmed by terror attacks. I salute your heroism, I salute your bravery, I salute the great strength you are showing, your bravery to keep your smiles, your family, your life. I also salute your wonderful families that helped you on the long way towards a full recovery.
"I raise my eyes and see the people who surround you, and again pray that next year there will not be more wounded families," he added.
After the President finished, Sagi Benau spoke on behalf of the organization for terror victims. Benau was wounded in an attack in Gaza in 1992, while working as a security guard for a gas tanker. He lost the sight in his right eye and was diagnosed with a severe head injury. Sagi still suffers from PTSD and, after a long recovery, started a family. He has since completed a bachelor's and master's degree in Law, and is now finishing his doctoral work.
During his speech, Sagi called on the Israeli society to help those wounded return to normal life. "We cope with the pain, the loss, and the bereavement every day, every hour, all year long. We are a silver platter upon which the state is given to its citizens, and so all citizens should be sensitive to, and aware of, the trauma that we experienced. They should think of all the disabled people who paid with their bodies and souls, and are trying to rebuild themselves and return to being part of the Israeli society."
Uzi Mor was badly wounded in the Yom Kippur War and lost his eyesight, one of his legs, and a hand. Later his son Yiftah, a pilot and deputy commander of an F-16 squadron, was killed in a plane crash. In 2015 Uzi was cited by the Defense Minister as a model of recuperation. Today he works in educating youths who are preparing to join the IDF.
Before he stepped onto the platform, a video was shown of Mor's life. First Lady Rivlin then gave him a long embrace and said that he is a great inspiration. During his speech, Mor commented on choosing life, despite the difficulty: "When I couldn't find in Israel's wars anymore, I went around hospitals to encourage optimism among others who had been wounded. Sometimes I may have overdone things.
"When meeting disabled people, who are the first of all those wounded, I am always reminded of the promise we were told, that the Six Day War would be our last war. It seems that we cannot uphold the promise, because the reality in does not allow us to lay down our swords. As long as I can help, I will visit hospital and I will continue to encourage this optimism."
The event's speakers did not shy away from criticism. Haim Bar, the head of the Disabled Veterans Association, spoke against the security apparatus's conduct towards its wounded members. "Especially today, when the people in Israel and the youth movements cherish Israel's wounded - we are exposed to the failed conduct in rehabilitating the wounded and their dealing with the rehabilitation system," he said.