I explained to the teenagers in front of me: “My husband served in the air-force during the Six-Day War; my son was in a combat unit – tanks – and saw things no mother wants their child to see. I don’t want my grandchildren to have to fight any wars; I don’t want them to serve as combat soldiers.”
“So if your grandchildren don’t do it, who will protect us?” asked the beautiful young woman, accusingly.
She had not understood at all. I don’t want ANYONE’S children or grandchildren to have to fight wars. But she was unable to imagine that.
Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to young people in the pre-army program called “Mechinat Erez Lod” at Kibbutz Migdal Oz within the framework of their week of learning about Yehuda and Shomron, the areas also known as “the Territories.” They were hearing diverse opinions on how Israel should manage the relationship with these lands and a range of viewpoints about their future, from annexation to complete withdrawal.
Read the full blog on Times of Israel site
