The war is raging, and the tally of casualties is unbearable. Last night, 2 soldiers were killed in battle, one of whom is the son of war cabinet minister and ex-IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot. Master Sgt. (res.) Gal Meir Eisenkot, 25, was killed after a bomb exploded in a tunnel shaft near soldiers in the Jebaliya camp in northern Gaza. His father, considered an affable, professional and practical military man, got the bitter message when he was in the command room of the 162nd division, which was in charge of the battle. Gadi Eisenkot joined the emergency government as part of Benny Gantzâs National Unity party. He is also an observer on the high-level war cabinet leading the decision-making in the Gaza campaign.
A television news program cited former IDF intelligence chief Tamir Hayman as saying: âAt the start of the war Gadi told me he intended to manage the war as though his son was at the front of the military campaign and his daughter was kidnapped in Gaza. And then he noted in his direct, solemn style: âMy daughter isnât kidnapped, but my son is at the front.'â The Prime Minister, the President and the Defence Minister all attended the funeral Friday morning. Benny Gantz eulogized and said to his colleague, âAs we planned the battle, you and I knew the arrows on the maps may turn to arrows slung into the hearts of a good many families⌠In the past weeks, meeting the families of the abducted and the fallen, your big heart never rested. They were all your sons, they were all your daughters. As we were sitting together in the division headquarters, the door of the war room opened, like so many doors you yourself opened in the past, to deliver the cursed message⌠I thought to myself, âNo one deserves this, Gadi doesnât deserve thisâ â .
There was an apparent arson attempt at the camp of the bereaved families in front of the Knesset. In recent days, the harassment of the bereaved who live there by right-wing activists has increased, and last night a fire broke out in the back of the encampment. Police ruled out any electrical fault. This is not new - in January 2021 there was an arson attempt on the protest camp near the Prime Ministerâs residence. What is new are the acts of contempt against people who are currently fraught with fear for the lives of their dearest ones.
The estimated 150 participants of last nightâs far-right march through Jerusalemâs Old City were stopped by the police near Nablus Gate. The reason given by the police was that they carried inciting signs. The fact that they walked around shouting âEvery jew is a soul, every Arab is an SOBâ and âremove the idol [abomination] from the Temple Mountâ, was apparently not as offensive.
Arye Khalatnik, a private individual who was key in spreading conspiracy theories and slandering members of the security forces as well as left-wing activists, was questioned today and sent to house arrest. He is expected to be indicted and charged with incitement and libel.Â
Khalatnik operated a Twitter account called "Emet" in which he spread an extensive conspiracy theory, accusing former Prime Minister Ehud Barak (who is very vocal in his opposing Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul) and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya of coordinating October 7 as a joint attack on Kibbutzim aimed to disintegrate Netanyahuâs regime.
Arye Khalatnik also claimed that First Sergeant Alon Bard, police investigator in the Rahat station, was a Hamas collaborator. The reputation of Bard, who died defending the partygoers in Reâim armed only with a handgun and 15 bullets, was smeared online as he was branded an inside man. As a result, Bardâs widow and three young children received thousands of threats and were forced to leave their home. After an investigative journalist blew Khalatnikâs cover, he was quick to try and reach an agreement with the widow, and even offered her money if she keeps the matter between them. Orli Bard refused.Â
Khalatnik then published an apology post acknowledging Bardâs bravery, but of course, his false conspiracy theories are still making rounds in internal Likud WhatsApp groups, shared among others by Doron Atias, an advisor to Nissim Vatori, someone who is more at home playing the village idiot than being a Member of Knesset.
Led&Go is an advertising platform that temporarily moved from plugging Adidas to sending warm regards from soldiers in Gaza to their families at home. The soldiers very often refrain from using their mobile devices, and touch base ever so often. Watch these heartwarming personal messages.