It has been 100 days since life stood still, the skies turned dark and we, all of us, were exposed to the burning lava of horrific terror and hate, cast upon us. 100 days of war that is just beyond doubt, and a test for the entire nation. A test of our courage, valor, determination and justice. A test of our power, our unity, our commitment as a society to our values and the principles that define us as a nation.
Read more:
In these difficult times, we cannot but ponder the sacrifice of our sons and daughters, the fallen, the civilians and those in uniform. Their sacrifice, their courage, their love of life and dedication to our precious ideals are testament to the strength in our hearts.
We must not and cannot forget, not even for a moment, those who were abducted. It is hard to imagine a more excruciating journey than that of the families whose loved ones are left to their fate in the hands of the murderous Hamas terrorists. We all pray in the words of the prophet: "Your children shall return to their country."
We will mourn the youth, valor and dedication of those who perished in this fight. We will cry of the many, too many, lives cruelly taken – victims of monstrous antisemitic unbridled violence. An yet we remember, even in the darkest hours, that we were witness to greatness, courage, strength and compassion in us as a people. Witness to the endless Israeli spirit that refuses to break. True, we made a grave and painful mistake when we were unprepared. But the greater mistake is that made by our enemy.
The enemy, whose "great heroes" murdered slaughtered, raped babies, old people girls and boys, burned homes with their residents still in them, committed the worst of crimes against humanity. An enemy who brought destruction and calamity on its cities and its people. An enemy that proudly exhibited Hitler's Mein Kampf in its homes and whose summer camps were used to brainwash minds into blind murderous hatred. An enemy who thinks he knows us, underestimates our sons and daughters until he observed with his own eyes: "Lo, a people that rises like a lioness, leaps up like a lion."
The valor of our people broke out in an inspiring fashion. We saw the TikTok generation, whose bravery will be remembered in Israel's annals of history. I met the women and men who are fighting with their commanders at their lead, strong as steel, fighting the enemy, swearing "never again!" We all see the force of the communities and families made to evacuate their homes, and the bravery of the wounded in hospitals; the faith and pride of the families of the fallen; the volunteering spirit and mutual care of Israeli society – Jews and Arabs alike; the determination of our allies, first and foremost among them the United States; the Jewish diaspora that stands with us, sometimes at their own peril. No one can defeat a people with such sons and daughters. No one can defeat a united nation such as ours.
3 View gallery
Packing food and supplies for families evacuated from the Gaza border after the October 7 massacre
(Photo: Dani Bar)
Although the war erupted in one of the most polarized times in our history, and while our enemy hoped the terror attack would deepen our rifts and weaken the Israeli alliance, we chose life, we chose our unity. We chose to unite immediately, to fight together for a joint present and future in our shared home.
Unfortunately, its hard to ignore that there are some who chose at this time to return to the discourse of hate that was prevalent until October 6. Any reverse to those times of polarization is a direct threat to us, to our safety, our lives. There can always be criticism, sometimes there must be debate – it is part of our DNA, but now is the time to debate responsibly, to preserve our unity, to remember that we are one people in one nation.
President Issac Herzog Photo: Alex KolomoiskyWe must not let Hamas defeat Israeli unanimity. That is true for all of us, and certainly for our elected officials and leaders. Leadership at times of war means a responsibility for a united Israel which is the foundation of victory – when our brothers and sisters risk life and limb in the front, we must rise above campaigns, little politics and divisive and poisoning rhetoric about the day before, and the day after the war, and hear the cries of our children who demand from us to let them return home to peace within us.
Despite the challenges we face, I have no doubt we will emerge from the battle, stronger and more determined than ever. Together as one nation, we will overcome the darkness, rise from the ashes, build, plant, sow, and turn any hell into paradise as we have always done, and create a future of hope and prosperity for our people, our country and the entire region; one that will be worthy of the sacrifice of the fallen, that will uplift the spirit of the wounded and reflect our commitment to shine a light of home for us and humanity at large. Our enemy was wrong. The spirit of the people of Israel has always triumphed. It will do so this time as well.