Bereaved Father Eliyahu Liebman Joins Noam Party, Citing Jewish Identity

Eliyahu Liebman, a former head of the Kiryat Arba regional council and a retired Lieutenant Colonel, has officially joined the Noam party, led by MK Avi Maoz. Liebman stated that the party's focus on Jewish identity, roots, and education resonated deeply with him, leading him to accept their invitation after previous political overtures.

Liebman's decision comes after a period of profound personal tragedy. His son, Elyakim, was killed during the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival, where he served as security and reportedly saved many lives before refusing to flee. Initially believed to be a hostage, it was later confirmed he was murdered that day. His remains were misidentified and only definitively identified about 210 days after the attack, leading to his burial in the Hebron cemetery.

"We understood that life is actually divided into two. What was and cannot be returned, we cannot return Elyakim, but how our lives will be from now on, that is our choice," Liebman said, reflecting on the loss and the decision to move forward.

This is not the first loss the family has endured. Liebman's brother, Shneur Shlomo Liebman, was killed in a 1998 shooting attack near Yitzhar. Liebman claims the terrorists responsible for his brother's death were released in a previous prisoner exchange, a claim he uses to argue against future deals with "enemies," stating, "With our enemies we do not make deals, because the meaning of releasing terrorists is more Jewish blood that will be spilled."

Liebman, who grew up in Kiryat Arba and witnessed a deadly attack in Hebron at age ten, has a long history of public service, including as security officer for the Jewish community in Hebron. He is married to Avigail and is the father of eight children and grandfather to eleven. The family has established initiatives in memory of Elyakim, including one to encourage matchmaking in Israel, aiming to "add life, add joy" where life was taken.