Opinions

As ordinary citizens we did not decide whether and how the ceasefire would be conducted. What is left for us these days is to pray and train the muscle of vigilance. It is better not to sit too much in front of the screens now and cuddle with the pictures of the release of the abductees.

We have seen so many horror videos, and now - we can see some happy videos. Because even good dreams come true, not just fears and anxieties.

If the families of the abductees had known that the Shalit deal would lead twelve years later to the Seventh of October, they would certainly have opposed it completely, and rightly so. The state is responsible for returning all the abductees, down to the last one, but not at any cost.

On their side, they will celebrate with candies for the release of people who devoted their time and energy to attempts to murder, stab, prepare Molotov cocktails. On our side the heroes are completely opposite.

Israel has been accused of committing a genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. If Israel were the murderous state claimed to be by those accusers, it would not have agreed to the ceasefire that is part of the hostage deal which will begin to take effect tomorrow morning.

Every Israeli voice in the media in favor of a deal raises the price of Hamas a little more. Sinwar knows that the Jewish sentiment can be squeezed more and more. Every article in a newspaper in favor of a deal will cause further hardening of the conditions, additional clauses, additional demands. And the journalists don't learn.

Former member of Knesset Anat Knafo in a column: A country that wants to build a national resilience plan - must be integrated in strengthening the ethos and heritage, the national and historical story.

The goal of the war should be victory and the defeat of the enemy, along with ensuring the nation's security in the future. The national goal prevails over private considerations. Just as this is true of a soldier in combat mode, so is it true of a prisoner. Rabbi Tamir Granot on ethical aspects of the return of the abductees.

After a physical and practical victory in this world, it turns out that anything can happen. Everything can surprise for the better, a small jar of oil finally shines for eight days, and the light is greater than anything we could have imagined.

This period will end one day, and it is already possible to discern the revelations that have grown and will grow out of the darkness. We would like salvation to grow without all these pains, but it is not up to us to decide.

For five weeks now, the IDF's activity in the north has been limited to reactionary fire and preventive fire. When tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated from their homes and the conflict line is shut down, this ping pong game against Hezbollah is a loss. Where is the creativity?

The blindness towards the residents of the Gaza Strip envelope and towards what is happening beyond the fence, was the root of the decay that led to the disaster. Those who ask us to ignore Palestinian suffering and persecute anyone who regrets the death of children are sowing the seeds of the next war.

The world cannot be ignored, and we need allies who share our values, but we should also not be America's doormat and insist on what we hold sacred and important.

Good and intelligent people are mistaken to think that there is no need for casualties in the battlefield at all and in fact, all the casualties are a result of moral weakness. When correct moral intuition meets a lack of understanding of the practical and harsh realities of war, ideas devoid of reason are born, and another unnecessary heartache emerges.

The choice following the October 7 Holocaust is clear: unite as a people or break up into individuals, make the hard decisions or flee them until they're made for us.

Last night, the Israeli public made sure to tell Hamas, "No more." The murderous organization's desire is to see us weakened, and yesterday was a moment of pure courage and understanding, both among Netanyahu's opponents and his supporters.

If we cherish life, if we want to continue existing in this land, if we want to solve the problem at its root, and if we want to ensure that the terrible massacre won't happen again, there is only one way: "And you shall dispossess all the inhabitants of the land from before you."

What do innocent babies and children have to do with the wars of adults?

Once again: Public statements of war in Hebrew, revelations of concessions from Arabic media and Telegram channels.