Bereaved Father Slams Likud Mother Over Political Exploitation of Grief

Yizhar Shay, former minister and father of fallen soldier Sergeant Major Yaron Uri Shay, has launched a sharp verbal attack against Talik Guili, mother of fallen soldier Ran Guili. Shay's criticism was prompted by remarks Guili made in a Likud video, suggesting that soldiers fighting for Israel do not differentiate between political camps.

Shay vehemently rejected Guili's assertion, stating that his son, like Ran Guili, fought to protect all of Israel, not a specific political faction. He accused Guili of joining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom Shay blames for the death of Ran Guili, and exploiting her personal grief for political purposes. Shay characterized Netanyahu as someone who uses division and incitement as political tools and exploits bereaved parents from one 'camp' against another.

Shay, identifying himself as belonging to the 'other camp,' asserted his right as a fellow bereaved father to criticize Guili. He condemned her words as "abomination and garbage" spoken in service of a prime minister responsible for "failure and disaster." Shay vowed that the heroes of the nation, regardless of their political affiliation, would not be forgotten.

He further emphasized that grief knows no political camps, only immense pain and the indelible memory of fallen heroes. Shay concluded by reminding Guili that despite being swayed by "the supreme inciter" to speak ill of millions of Israelis who share the pain of the current war, all citizens love the country and many have paid the ultimate price, just like her.