Eulogy delivered at the funeral of Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council head Ofir Liebstein:
Dear audience, citizens of Israel who are watching us, the Liebstein family is so dear to me.
Exactly three weeks ago today, at this hour, before Black Saturday, I was at your house. "A boys' house," Ophir told me. I had the privilege of hearing Ofir talk again about 95% heaven – which turned into 100% hell one morning.
Mr. President, you said nice and correct things about Ofir, and I am sure that many more things will be said here about Ofir, all that can be said.
I just loved him. And I still love him. The head understands, and the heart refuses to digest that Ofir is in the past tense. But with your permission, I also want to take advantage of this place and this difficult moment to say something that I feel Ofir would have said at such a moment.
Vered, when I was at your house, Ofir told me in another context that they, the council members, the CSOs, the educational staff, the IDF teams with whom we sat – understand who they are doing for them, and that we must make sure that there is something for them. We are now at war over the "what."
From where we are, it's hard to see the "Red South" that Ofir led. It's hard to see communities. It's hard to see how the combination of the words "village" and "Gaza" go together, and how they can connect. Between a quiet and communal place and a place from which monsters emerged.
From where we are, it's hard to see paradise. So I'm here, despite the difficulty and the pain, to say to all of you first of all, sorry. Sorry we couldn't save you, that we couldn't protect you this time, that we couldn't save Ofir and everyone. And I am here to assure you, and all citizens of Israel, that we will not stop until we realize the dream of Ofir and his friends, and that we will once again build 100% paradise. So that Ofir's initiatives and vision will happen, so that the paradise of the western Negev will be rebuilt. I personally intend to live in this paradise that was built in the western Negev.
We are at war not only for your home, the residents of the envelope, but for the home of all of us. It will take a long time. The war in the south, and if necessary in the north or anywhere else, may take months, but construction will take years. And only when it is completed will we win.
From where we are, it's hard to see the "Red South" that Ofir led. It's hard to see communities. It's hard to see how the combination of the words "village" and "Gaza" go together, and how they can connect. Between a quiet and communal place and a place from which monsters emerged
Rose, dear, you said in an interview a few days ago that you are now in survival. We are all in it, and together, in Ophir's spirit, we will not only survive – we will both win and overcome. We will remember Ofir and our heroes, and we will bring good days like those that Ofir and his friends devoted themselves to bringing all their lives.
Our mission is not only to defeat Hamas, but also to ensure that the south is 100% paradise. After the war, after we win, in every arena in which we fight, we will devote ourselves to this task of building.
Because Ofir lived for hope, for the country, for his community and for his family, and he fell for them. We too will live and fight for the same goal. Ofir's story is one of love and darkness. It's dark now. Ofir, my dear, I love you and miss you. Thank you for the privilege of getting to know you. We will continue on your way. We have determination, we have love, and it will prevail.
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