Many thousands accompanied the final journey of Sha’ar Hanegev Council Head Ofer Liebshtein ob”m, murdered in an exchange of fire with Hamas, who came to massacre the council members. The minister and war cabinet member Benny Gantz said at the eulogy: “We will not stop until the heaven of the Western Negev is rebuilt. I personally intend to live in this heaven.”
He continued: “The Liebshtein family so dear to me, today before exactly three weeks, in this hour, before the Black Shabbat, I was with you at home. A home of sons, Ofir said to me. I had the privilege of hearing Ofir again talk of his 95% heaven, which became 100% hell one morning. I simply loved him. And I still love him. The head understands, and the heart refuses to absorb that Ofir is in past tense.”
“Sorry for not saving you”
“We are now at war over the ‘what.’ From the place we occupy, it’s hard to see the ‘red south’ Ofir led. It’s hard to see communities. It’s hard to see how the combination of the words Kfar and Aza go together and how they can connect. From a quiet and communal place to a place where monsters burst forth. From the place we occupy, it’s hard to see the heaven.”
