My Lebanon is not just memories of my long service in operational, overt and covert activity, in the Golani Regiment, in the "Sheldag" unit, in the 51st Golani Battalion, in the Givati Brigade and in the Lebanese Brigade. Security - This is mainly a school for lessons that lead me to this day, in the face of contemporary realities, in other arenas as well. In that case we wanted to get rid of the PLO, but we got Hezbollah.
In Lebanon, I learned that a country where people live in one subordination and in mixing populations that are hostile to each other is a recipe for political instability, chaos and civil war.
A country where foreign elements will find a flower bed to plant additional fermentation seeds.
Such a Lebanon has no future.
"With the enemy beyond the fence - we will get along."
40 years of the Lebanon War, Photo: Moshe Shai
In Lebanon, I learned that the decision to withdraw is more difficult than the decision to go to war.
I have learned that leadership is needed that understands the cost of establishing itself within a hostile population, and resolutely leads moves that on the face of it appear as weakness but actually strengthen us over time.
The decision to withdraw in 2000 benefited Israel, both domestically and internationally.
With the enemy beyond the fence - we will get along and we will be able to.
From that Lebanon I learned that if we do not avoid continuing to drift towards the reality of one country where two hostile populations coexist, and that if we do not understand that a courageous political leadership should emerge here that will resolutely and courageously lead a decision on separation - we will get "Lebanon" right here. Within the Jewish state.
But my Lebanon is also the friends I lost there, and those who came back from it not as they came out.
Lebanon for me is our allies from the army of southern Lebanon, who fought side by side with us, and to whom we have a moral debt.
My Lebanon is the land on which I fought, and where my children also fought.
I can only hope that my grandchildren will not be required to do so.
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