Israeli Journalist Criticizes Hostage Survivor's Remarks on Arab Citizens
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Israeli journalist Suliman Maswadeh criticized hostage survivor Rom Bresslavsky's remarks comparing Arab citizens to Hamas terrorists. Maswadeh highlighted the contributions of Arab citizens on October 7th and in hospitals, questioning why they should be equated with their captors. He also blamed the government and certain politicians for fueling anti-Arab discourse. Maswadeh concluded by wishing Bresslavsky well.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Journalist Suliman Maswadeh criticized hostage survivor Rom Bresslavsky's tweet comparing Arab citizens to Hamas terrorists.
- Maswadeh highlighted Arab contributions on October 7th, including paramedics and medical staff who saved lives.
- He questioned why law-abiding Arab citizens should be punished and compared to terrorists.
- Maswadeh accused politicians of fueling a discourse against forming a government with Arabs.
- The journalist acknowledged Bresslavsky's suffering but deemed the comparison unacceptable.
Channel 13 correspondent to the US, Suliman Maswadeh, published a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday directly addressing hostage survivor Rom Bresslavsky. Maswadeh criticized Bresslavsky's recent tweet, which he felt unfairly equated law-abiding Arab citizens with Hamas terrorists who held him captive.
Maswadeh began by acknowledging the immense suffering Bresslavsky endured during his captivity, stating he could not imagine the experience. However, he then expressed his inability to understand Bresslavsky's tweet. Maswadeh pointed out that Arab citizens were also abducted and killed on October 7th, and that Hamas terrorists primarily targeted Jews but also killed Arabs. He highlighted the contributions of Arab paramedics and residents who aided victims at the Nova music festival and in the Gaza border communities, as well as Arab medical staff who treated the injured in hospitals.
"What is the fault of those dedicated people who come to work every day, working double shifts, that you punish them and compare them to the terrorists who held you captive?" Maswadeh questioned. He further criticized what he called an "unbearable symmetry" between law-abiding citizens, some of whom he argued contribute more than some Jewish citizens, and terrorists.
While Maswadeh reiterated that he could not fathom his own experience in captivity, he argued it did not justify Bresslavsky's comparison. He stated his objection to equating a terror organization with 20% of the country's citizens. Maswadeh also addressed Bresslavsky's right to choose his medical caregivers, even after his ordeal, but maintained that placing an Arab doctor, a citizen, in the same category as a terrorist captor was unacceptable.
Maswadeh also directed criticism towards the political system, blaming the government and politicians from the "change bloc" for failing to address the issue. He argued that instead of rectifying the injustice, these politicians fuel a "despicable discourse" that claims a government cannot be formed with Arabs. Despite his strong critique, Maswadeh concluded his post with a personal message wishing Bresslavsky a good life.
