Wife of Captured Israeli Airman Ron Arad Marks 40 Years Since His Abduction
Translated & summarized from Channel 13 by baba
Forty years after navigator Ron Arad was captured by Amal in Lebanon and never returned, his wife Tami spoke out about the struggle for his return and drew parallels to the current hostage crisis. She stated that life is more important than closure and expressed disappointment with the public and governmental response to the families of current hostages. Arad contrasted the current situation with the broad public solidarity shown for Ron's case, which she said transcended political divides. While they did not succeed in bringing Ron home, she expressed gratitude to those who supported the family and continued to remember him.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Forty years ago, navigator Ron Arad was captured by Amal in Lebanon and never returned.
- His wife Tami stated that life is more important than closure and urged against endangering fighters for return.
- She drew parallels to the current hostage crisis, criticizing public and governmental responses.
- Arad contrasted the current situation with the broad public solidarity for Ron's case.
- She expressed gratitude to supporters and security personnel who aided the family over the years.
Forty years have passed since navigator Ron Arad was captured by the Amal organization in Lebanon and never returned. His wife, Tami, posted on Facebook on Friday, stating, "If there is no possibility to bring Ron back without endangering fighters, do not bring him back. Life is more important than any closure." Recalling the early days of his captivity, she said it was clear to everyone that Ron would find it difficult to be imprisoned for long, as he was a person who would seek ways to occupy himself and escape. She recalled that letters received from him, which were censored by his captors, contained coded messages that required significant effort to decipher. After 20 years, the family received a diary Ron had written on the blank pages of an Arabic book. She described these writings as a testament.
On the evening of October 7, she realized that dozens of people could be in a similar dire situation to Ron's. She believed from the outset that the families of hostages needed to fight and rally public support. She expressed shock at encountering Israelis who threatened and insulted the hostage families protesting outside the Kirya (IDF headquarters) shortly after October 7. She was dismayed that within months, a public segment would systematically harass these families, becoming part of a government-backed incitement machine that framed the legitimate human request for the return of captives as a personal attack on the prime minister. She could not have imagined police arresting or striking hostage families and bereaved families, nor ministers boasting about thwarting hostage deals.
In contrast to the struggle for the current hostages, public solidarity for Ron Arad's case transcended political divides. Tami Arad noted that hatred was not a political tool then, and there was no adoration of a leader that eroded moral conscience and mutual responsibility, which she said characterized Israelis until the Netanyahu era. She stated that during their struggle, they knew and felt where the Israeli public's heart was.
She concluded by acknowledging that they did not succeed in bringing Ron back, and the regret remains painful after 40 years. However, she expressed gratitude to many in the security system who assisted the family, to Ron's friends who have not forgotten him, and to many unknown individuals who planned, executed, risked, and stayed awake for long nights, refusing to accept the finality of Ron's fate.
