Survivor of Be'eri Massacre Declines Likud Party List Offer Ahead of Elections

Avdiad Bechar, a survivor of the Be'eri massacre during the Simchat Torah attack who lost his wife Dana and son Carmel, was offered a reserved spot on the Likud party list for the upcoming elections. The offer was reported on Monday by Channel 13 news. Bechar was severely injured in the attack, losing a leg, and he and his daughter Hadar were rescued after enduring about 13 hours trapped in a safe room while terrorists fired at the door, set fires, and threw grenades inside. Since the attack, Bechar has expressed hawkish views, calling for expanded Israeli military operations in Gaza and opposing Hamas’s continued rule. Despite the offer, Bechar declined to join the Likud list.

Additionally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly attempted to recruit former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to strengthen the party’s slate, but those efforts have not yet succeeded. The political maneuvering comes as Likud prepares for the upcoming elections amid ongoing security concerns and public debate over responses to terrorism.