Former MK Haim Jelin Expresses Deep Security Concerns for Kibbutz Be'eri

Former Knesset Member Haim Jelin has voiced profound concerns about the security situation in Kibbutz Be'eri, stating he would not return his school-aged children to the community under any circumstances. Jelin cited the perceived thinning of forces along the "yellow line" bordering Gaza, attributing it to fighter fatigue rather than operational necessity. He expressed a lack of personal security in Be'eri, noting that residents can hear explosions and activity within the Gaza Strip.

Jelin warned that a weakened military presence, stemming from exhausted soldiers, poses a significant threat. He argued that the military is prepared for short-term conflicts, not prolonged engagements like the current situation, which has lasted for three years. He suggested that without allowing individuals to recover and manage their own well-being, Israel risks raising a generation willing to sacrifice themselves for the state.

He criticized the government's security approach, recalling his 2018 Knesset discussion about the threat of drones, which he now considers the most significant danger. Jelin highlighted the asymmetric warfare Israel faces, where individuals willing to become martyrs pose a constant threat, contrasting this with Israel's need for farmers and a productive populace.

Jelin asserted that if the next Israeli government fails to ensure security, parents will not sacrifice their children for the state, especially minors with their lives ahead of them. He emphasized that a parent's primary duty is to protect their children, just as a government's fundamental role is to protect its citizens.