"The Evil Does Not Erase the Good": Bereaved Father Hagai Luber Thanks 'Brothers in Arms' While Condemning Refusal to Serve
Hagai Luber on Brothers in Arms: Bereaved father Hagai Luber thanks the organization for aid provided to his late son, Yehonatan, while simultaneously condemning their calls for reserve service refusal.
Against the backdrop of a heated public feud between political commentator Amit Segal and the "Brothers in Arms" (Achim Laneshek) organization, Hagai Luber, who lost his son, Yehonatan, in the Gaza Stripm has published a rare and nuanced message.
In a social media post on Monday, Luber expressed deep personal gratitude for the organization's civilian aid while maintaining a fierce ideological opposition to their past calls for reserve duty suspension.
Luber, a resident of Yitzhar whose son fell during the "Swords of Iron" war, shared an intimate story of his interaction with the organization's civilian command center (the Hamal).
Hagai Luber: "I also turned to the 'Brothers in Arms' Hamal for help when Yehonatan’s glasses broke just before he entered [Gaza]. The people there responded quickly, with joy, and with a willing heart. For that, I simply say thank you."
Luber explicitly rejected claims that the organization’s volunteer efforts were merely a "whitewashing" tactic to clean up their public image. He stated that he chooses to focus on deeds rather than hidden intentions, noting that "a noble act" remains noble even if the organization has also "done bad and failed."
Despite his gratitude, Luber emphasized that his appreciation for their civil service does not diminish his duty to condemn their political actions during the judicial reform protests.
The bereaved father concluded his message with a direct appeal to the organization and its activists, bridging the gap between his gratitude and his principles.
"So, to 'Brothers in Arms' and its activists, thank you. And now, it is time for you to turn back from that disgrace [of calling for refusal]," Luber wrote.
His message stands out as a rare attempt to separate the polarizing political debates of 2023 from the civilian mobilization that defined the home front following October 7th, challenging both supporters and critics of the organization to acknowledge the complexity of their actions.
Editor's note: Many believe that the 7th of October may not have happened without the fiery judicial refrom protests, of which Brothers in Arms took an active and unfortunate stance. So while it's great that they helped during the war, they may also have inadvertently laid the groundwork for it to take place.