Three weeks after Black Sabbath and with the entry of IDF ground forces into the Gaza Strip – dramatically increasing the fear among the families of the abductees – a demonstration was held in front of the government compound attended by hundreds of demonstrators, families of abductees and their supporters.
Netanyahu to the families of the abductees: "We will realize and exhaust every possibility to bring them home" // GPO
Merav Leshem Gonen, mother of abductee Roni Leshem Gonen, opened the remarks by saying that the conversation with Netanyahu was difficult and blunt things were said. Then spoke Malki Shem Tov, the father of Omar Shem Tov who was kidnapped to Gaza.
Shem Tov declared: "Our position, which represents all the families: all the abductees in exchange for all the Hamas prisoners!"
Nissim, a family friend of Jonathan Sombro who was kidnapped to Gaza, burst into his words and shouted, "We want answers. For 22 days you speak for me. We don't want these statements. We ask and demand action now!"
To the many attendees who asked him to honor the occasion, he replied: "You didn't respect me. You don't respect us."
Families of the abductees at a press conference after meeting with Netanyahu: "It was poignant, blunt and clear things were said" // Photo: Moshe Ben-Simhon
Behind the scenes, Jonathan Sombro's mother spoke with two of the headquarters activists and shared her pain that she arrived at the Kirya at 18:00 P.M. to meet with the prime minister, even though she was not invited but was refused.
"They told me I would go home, rest, gather my strength, so I would have the strength for a press conference at eight. I don't want to gather strength. I want to meet with the Prime Minister. I want answers."
The person who came to the defense of the families who expressed pain and frustration at being excluded from the meeting with the prime minister was actress Yona Elian, who did not give up and cried out at those who tried to silence the protesters. "Don't keep their mouths shut. It's OK to voice more opinions here! Don't silence anyone. They are also families. They deserve answers, too."
Actress Yona Elian in conversation with the families of the abductees // Merav Sever
Although the families of the abductees try to present and maintain a united front in front of the central headquarters, beneath the surface there is great frustration and anger.
The large number of abductees may not please everyone, but the families of the abductees demand more diversity in the representation of the families who meet with the prime minister.
"We asked to attend the meeting with the prime minister but were told that the meeting was already closed," shares Or Levy's brother, who was kidnapped from the party after his wife was murdered in front of his eyes. "I don't trust the prime minister on this issue. Any time that passes is to our detriment."
Could it be that this is why you are not being added to the meeting?
"Yes," says Orr's brother. "There may be a representative team that is more comfortable. But we are not political people and do not want to get into politics. We want Light at home now."
"They decided who would be the representatives who would meet him without asking us." , Families of the abductees. Photo: Merav Sever
"When I wanted to join the meeting with Netanyahu, I saw that they wrote in the group of abductees that it had already been decided who would be the representatives who would accompany the meeting," adds the observer's father, Lake Berger.
"My grandson was kidnapped to Gaza," shares the grandmother of one of the abductees, who wishes to remain anonymous. "I'm very hurt that they didn't allow me to come to a meeting with Netanyahu. We deserve answers, too. Respect us. Give us information."
The father of two abducted children, who wishes to remain anonymous so as not to harm efforts to bring his children home, says: "There is no smoke without fire. It is clear that there is a closed clique here that decides who meets with the prime minister and who does not. And usually they are the same parents and the same names. Maybe they know I'll turn tables there. But I don't want to serve Netanyahu anyway. All these cameras on him and all these videotaped press conferences. All of this is meant to serve him."
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