hostages, traumas of Israeli society since the Munich Olympics

The fate of the hostages in Gaza is a major concern for Israeli society. This problem dates back several decades ago, with the dramatic deaths of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games.

In Israel, the face of Ron Arad reappeared recently in demonstrations by families of hostages. A symbol as an agreement appears imminent to release some of the dozens of people detained by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Because the disappearance of Ron Arad, a fighter plane co-pilot, was experienced as a national tragedy. His plane, shot down in Lebanon in 1986, had been found but not him. He was captured by a Lebanese militia, before no longer giving any sign of life. His name has since been attached within Israeli society to the hostage who never returned.

“It is the symbol of defeat, of lossexplains Daniel Bensimon, former journalist at Haaretz. There has never been an official declaration of Ron Arad’s death and I even believe that in 50 years, when he is 200 years old, Ron Arad will still be here. It’s the psychology of this country.” The hostage issue has been a real trauma in Israel since the 1972 Olympics hostage-taking. Eleven Israeli athletes were captured and then murdered by the Palestinian terrorist movement Black September, causing a global shock wave.

Save Israeli lives at all costs

In the 2000s, the face of Gilat Shalit accompanied Israelis for five years. The young soldier was kidnapped on June 25, 2006, on the edge of the Gaza Strip, by Islamist fighters. He remained captive for five years before negotiations were finally successful. According to the doctrine which aims to save all Israeli lives, his freedom was snatched in exchange for the release of a thousand Palestinian prisoners. “One against 1,000, one against 2,000, one against 5,000”, Daniel Bensimon count.

“It risks being understood as racist, but in the eyes of an Israeli, the life of a Jew is worth much more than thousands of other lives.”

Daniel Bensimon, former journalist at Haaretz

at franceinfo

“It plays a role in Jewish trauma, he confirms. We will never let you down.” The current hostage crisis has awakened this trauma in Israeli society, as there are children, women and soldiers among the captives. But there are also young secular partygoers, Israeli before being Jewish, which is a major difference for the Netanyahu government, believes Daniel Bensimon.

“We must free these people. But I tell you between us: Netanyahu does not like these hostages. They represent the other, secular world, the non-believers who celebrated on a religious day. That is at play today “. The Israeli Prime Minister waited 45 days before receiving the families. “They are not part of the ideological family, the political family”decides the journalist.