Former Spokesperson Blasted for Blaming Hostage Survivor for His Dismissal

Avi Shoshan, a former spokesperson who was dismissed from Ichilov Hospital, has publicly criticized hostage survivor Yocheved Lifshitz, stating he cannot bear to see her and claiming she nearly ruined his life. The article argues that Shoshan's anger stems from his professional downfall, not from Lifshitz's actions.

Lifshitz, an 85-year-old who was abducted from her home in Nir Oz, held captive in Gaza for 17 days, and lost her husband on October 7th, is portrayed as a victim of circumstance. The author criticizes the public discourse that labels her a "public relations problem" and suggests she must be politically correct and grateful to be allowed to speak about her ordeal.

The article contends that Shoshan is unfairly shifting blame onto Lifshitz for his dismissal, which was a result of his own professional failures as a spokesperson. It highlights that Lifshitz was a victim of a major national tragedy and returned to a situation where clear protocols for communicating with former hostages were not yet established.

Furthermore, the piece dismisses Shoshan's claim that Lifshitz is motivated by hatred for Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that only Lifshitz knows her true motives. It criticizes the use of her family's political views to discredit her and questions the societal expectation that hostages should provide a specific narrative or praise the government.

The author concludes that while Shoshan is entitled to his feelings about his dismissal, Lifshitz is not responsible for his professional decisions, Israel's public relations, or the events of October 7th. The article laments a societal shift where a victim's right to speak is contingent on their political alignment or perceived loyalty to the government.