A poignant saga of heroism and post-traumatic stress has unfolded in Israel, as Rami Davidian, celebrated for saving dozens during the October 7 Nova music festival attack, publicly walked back accusations against a prominent military figure.
The controversy erupted when Davidian claimed on national television that Major General Israel Ziv had admitted to fleeing the festival grounds rather than returning to assist victims. The allegation, made during an interview on Kan 11 news channel, prompted an immediate response from Ziv, who threatened legal action for defamation.
But the story took a turn during Davidian's appearance on Channel 12, where he revealed the emotional context behind his earlier statements. "My PTSD overwhelmed me," Davidian explained, describing how he had received devastating news just before his controversial interview: a survivor he had rescued had taken her own life.
"I want to apologize to Israel Ziv and Noam Tibon," Davidian said, acknowledging both generals as "heroes who did sacred work." The retraction came after Davidian had hosted a gathering of survivors he had rescued and their families—a moment of closure that turned turbulent with the unexpected news of the survivor's death.
When pressed about potential outside influence on his original allegations, Davidian was unequivocal: "No one influenced me. Rami isn't funded by anyone."
For his part, Ziv had characterized Davidian's initial interview as "unfortunate," suggesting the rescuer might have been manipulated by others.
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