Bereaved Families Urge MK Kahana Against Arab Party Support for Knesset Speaker Role

Nearly 200 Israeli bereaved families, including those of fallen soldiers and terror victims, have appealed to Member of Knesset Matan Kahana, urging him not to accept the role of Knesset Speaker if elected with the support of Arab parties. In a letter sent ahead of an anticipated Tuesday vote, the families implore Kahana, citing his military background, to avoid political cooperation with lawmakers they claim refuse to recognize Hamas and Hezbollah as terror organizations. They emphasize that this is a moral issue transcending political considerations.

The families' letter highlights Kahana's past service as a combat soldier, pilot, and reserve officer, acknowledging his familiarity with the costs of conflict and the challenges facing Israel. They reference the October 7th attacks and the subsequent war, detailing the severe harm to civilians and soldiers and the heavy price paid by many families. The letter states, "Our brothers and sisters were raped, slaughtered, burned, kidnapped, and murdered with unfathomable cruelty by terrorists of the Hamas terror organization."

The families criticize Arab parties in the Knesset, asserting that these parties refuse to designate Hamas and Hezbollah as terror groups, with some members allegedly expressing understanding or support for their actions. The letter expresses dismay at the prospect of Arab party votes contributing to Kahana's election, stating, "When we buried our dead, they shed no tears. When we hear the words 'cleared for publication' and choke on tears, some see it as an achievement for 'the resistance.' When we are proud of our heroic soldiers, some wish for their failure."

They argue that Kahana's election through such support would send a grave public and moral message, deeply harming the bereaved families and the memory of their loved ones. "Political cooperation with those who are unwilling to condemn terror organizations, and even identify with their actions, is not a trivial matter. This is a grave public and moral message that is difficult to accept," the letter reads.

Concluding their appeal, the families personally implore Kahana to consider his military past and the responsibility he owes to those who lost loved ones. "Matan, our brother, precisely from you we expect responsibility and not to turn your back on the fallen, the murdered, and their families. It is not too late to fix this," they wrote, urging him to reject the support of "terror supporters" in the Knesset and prioritize conscience and values over political expediency.