Bereaved Mother Iris Haim Recalls Anti-Semitic Parallels in Israeli Society

Iris Haim, whose son Yotam was killed by IDF fire after escaping Hamas captivity, has spoken out about her past perceptions of Israeli society, drawing a stark comparison to anti-Semitic views.

In an interview with Gadi Taub on the "Shomer Saf" channel, Haim expressed shame over her previous mindset, stating, "I looked at Jews in the State of Israel the way anti-Semites looked at Jews in Nazi Germany." She elaborated that she could have seen an ultra-Orthodox man with his children and harbored negative thoughts, a perspective she now regrets.

Haim also criticized the media's role in shaping her views, particularly during the 2005 Gaza disengagement. She recalled believing media narratives that blamed settlers for soldier deaths rather than Arab animosity towards Jews.

During the conversation, Haim became emotional discussing the controversial film "Nezah Yehuda," which she believes unfairly damages Israel and its soldiers. She lamented the collateral damage inflicted on Israeli families by such portrayals.

Haim's call for societal unity is echoed by others, including Yaron London, who advocates for bridging the divide between left and right, and former hostage Bar Kupferstein, who organized joint prayer ceremonies at the Western Wall and Hostages Square.