Opposing the Hostage Deal - Profiles in Integrity

The Hostage “Deal” is at the top of everyone’s mind here in Israel. As I write this essay, it is still uncertain whether the deal will go through, but everyone is torn by the prospect of a deal with ruthless Nazi-like monsters to bring some of our precious brethern home. 

There is no one in Israel whose heart does not go out to the hostages and their families, who have undergone indescribable pain and suffering in the 470+ days since that accursed day of October 7, 2024. There is no one who would not be moved to tears of joy at seeing any of the hostages released and reunited with their loved ones. And yet, the hard reality is that the price currently on the table — the release of thousands of terrorists, including those who have killed, murdered, and raped; the granting of the ability for Hamas to claim victory and begin rebuilding; the withdrawal of the IDF from critically important areas; the agreement that two-thirds of the remaining hostages will not be released as part of this deal — is extraordinarily high and not only places Israel at great risk but makes the sacrifice of the close to one thousand of our young heroes almost pointless. It is too much to bear.

There are those who say we have to trust that President Trump and PM Netanyahu know what they are doing in accepting such a deal, and that we should trust them. That perhaps Israel is being promised some secret benefit (perhaps US help in taking out the regime in Iran?), or that the idea is to get out hostages and rely on Hamas to inevitably break the terms which will allow Israel to re-engage, after the Israel haters in the Biden Administration are gone. 

(Listen to a very interesting presentation in this vein by my friend, the esteemed Rav Dov Fischer).

I, for one, certainly don’t know.

What I can say, however, is that I am proud that I have voted for Otzma Yehudit in the last several elections, and proud that they are taking a stand to vote against the deal (while they will mostly continue to support PM Netanyahu from outside the coalition).

Please find below an excerpted version of the resignation letter published by Yitzhak Shimon Wasserlauf. He was (is) the Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev, and the Galilee in the current government. It expresses beautifully just what I would want one of our elected offcials to say. I find his integrity and clear-headed stance on the issue inspiring, and hope that he and his party will have even more support in the future.

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I joined Otzma Yehudit (OY)at the age of 18. ... After OY became an independent party, it ran in the elections five times and finally passed the electoral threshold on the fourth. Nevertheless, I continued to participate in every struggle we had and gave it my all.

I wasn't promised budgets or jobs. I was promised only an ideological backbone. They promised me that we would stand for the truth.  That is what kept me going in the face of all the detractors and "pragmatists", who always had explanations for why we should continue to do what was politically expedient. When we demonstrated together and cried out, they always told us that “the issue is complex” and “what you see from here you don't see from there”.  That it wasn't black and white.

I told myself that if and when I get to this moment, I hope I won't be like them. I prayed that I would have the courage to stand in front of the mirror, in front of my values, in front of my inner truth, and that I would not be influenced with all the glory and glitter.

And now we stand at the moment. It is the moment when I stand before a test for which I have been training all my adult years — The test of truth. I’m an honest person, and I honestly say that if I weren’t a minister today, I would probably be demonstrating in front of my own house against this deal.

We hugged each other, sat together and cried.  Yet, I told him I was going to oppose a deal that would bring his daughter back.

Indeed, life is complicated — very complicated. I will cry with excitement for every kidnapped person who returns home. The day before yesterday, I went to the home of one of the parents of the hostages who will be released in this deal. I knocked on the door, and my heart was pounding . He opened the door, and we embraced. We hugged each other, sat together and cried.

Yet, I told him I was going to oppose a deal that would bring his daughter back. I explained to him how unbearable the decision was. And I also explained to him how much I wanted his daughter at home.

It was excruciating — Don’t envy us.

My conscience has been crying out since October 7th. I feel like I'm in an ongoing nightmare. I tried to be wherever I thought I was needed. I tried to provide a solution for the heartbroken. I don't know if I've done enough — probably not, because it's never enough.

But I did everything out of intense love for my people, out of the responsibility that accompanies me in my public mission.

I never asked, and in performing my role I was never interested whether the person standing in front of me was religious or secular, and what his or her beliefs were. Or whether he is right-wing or left-wing.  We are a Great Nation, and each one of us has a great soul. I can’t stand labels or sectoral divisions.  I learned so much about our people in the year and a half of this war.

I am terrified of the release of hundreds of terrorists who succeeded in murdering Jews or who tried to murder and did not succeed, who are proud of their deeds and would be happy to do so again.

Above all, I wanted to be a worthy emissary for all the strength, heroism and dedication of our fighters and our wonderful people. I'm proud of the work my ministry did during the war. We were privileged to help and do significant things.

However, this deal, as it has taken shape, is inconsistent with the dictate of my conscience.  Its long-term significance is disastrous, as it  will cost us a lot of blood, God forbid.

Yesterday, I saw the tears in the eyes of my friend Limor, whose husband Shuli was murdered by a terrorist who was released in the Shalit deal. I am terrified of the release of hundreds of terrorists who succeeded in murdering Jews or who tried to murder and did not succeed, who are proud of their deeds and would be happy to do so again.

I am afraid of the picture of Hamas's victory when they begin to rebuild Gaza and themselves, and once again turn their bayonet and wickedness on our people.

I cannot face the families the families of the heroes who fell in this war in order to achieve victory over our enemies, whose eyes long for them and are determined they shall not have died in vain. As well, I cannot look at the families of the abducted and murdered, G-d forbid, who still have no names and faces.

I must act according to my conscience, and that's what I will do.

I thank the chairman of OY, Itamar Ben Gvir, who taught me over the years to stand up for principles, to fight for our truth, and to pay the personal price when necessary.

I will announce, together with my fellow ministers, my resignation after the deal is passed by the government. I will do so with a heavy but complete heart.  And with G-d's help, I pray together with everyone for good news and the success of our beloved country.

Yitzhak Shimon Wasserlauf