Michael Oren
WSJ, Sept. 28, 2023
“The result was a conflict that, in terms of its scale and complexity, was almost unmatched in the post-World War II era.”
Recently, while walking in a Tel Aviv park, I was approached by a well-dressed, elderly man who recognized me—I once served as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S.—and asked for a moment of my time. “Fifty years ago, I was a tank commander in Sinai,” he began, “firing at enemy tanks only 10 yards away.”
Carrying his wounded to an aid station, he saw row after row of Israeli dead. “I see those bodies before me every day of my life.”
He paused to compose himself and continued. “Returning to my tank, a religious soldier suggested that we say a prayer of thanks and, though I’m not observant, I agreed.” But while praying, they were hit by Egyptian artillery. Miraculously he survived but everyone else, including that religious soldier, was killed. “I see that picture before me every day, too.”
Tears welled in his eyes. “And now I wonder if our sacrifices were worth it.” Referring to the turmoil triggered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his radical right-wing coalition, he asked, “Did all those young boys die just so our government could succeed where the Arabs failed and destroy the State of Israel?”
… [To read the full article, click here]
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