Bereaved Father Joins Politics, Citing Jewish Identity as Israel's Strength

Eliyahu Liebman, former head of the Kiryat Arba-Hebron council and father of fallen soldier Elyakim, has announced his entry into politics, joining the Noam L'Yisrael party. Liebman, who lost his son on October 7th while he was rescuing wounded soldiers at a music festival, stated that his decision stems from a profound belief in the necessity of strengthening Jewish identity and education in Israel.

He explained that after experiencing immense personal tragedy and witnessing national hardship, he felt a calling to public service, responding with "Hineni" (Here I am) to the requests to join the political arena. Liebman believes that a strong foundation in Jewish education is the key to rectifying issues within Israel's legal and military systems, fostering better inter-personal relations, and ultimately ensuring the nation's resilience.

Addressing concerns that his party might be perceived as extreme, Liebman emphasized that their approach is based on "ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace." He asserted that Jewish pride should be embraced by all Israelis, especially in light of historical persecution and recent events, and that the party aims to make Judaism accessible with love and peace, not coercion.

Liebman also discussed his party's stance on the Haredi community and the issue of military conscription, advocating for dialogue and understanding rather than forced enlistment. He believes that imposing conscription on yeshiva students is a divisive tactic and that solutions must be found through discussion, respecting their commitment to Torah study.

Reflecting on the war, Liebman stressed the importance of maintaining a "holy camp" within the military, stating that the IDF's sole purpose is to decisively defeat Israel's enemies. He quoted his son's final message, "He who has mercy on the cruel will eventually be cruel to the merciful," and concluded that while others may say it is good to die for one's country, it is better to live for it, and "good that our enemies die for their country."

Liebman sees his continued public service and advocacy for Jewish identity as a direct testament to his son Elyakim's legacy, a way to counter the enemy's attempt to bury their spirit and to affirm life and resilience.