Reflections on Israel’s Spirit and Resilience.

Jonathan Lewis
Member of the Board, Israel Bonds International. 

Having recently returned from an intense four-day visit to Israel with the leadership of Israel Bonds, along with a group comprised predominantly of Americans, one Canadian, a couple from Mexico, and myself from the UK, I offer the following reflections. These thoughts were captured a shortly after returning to London, reflecting on Israel following this experience five months after the horrors of 7 October 2023.

The Victims

Whilst the rest of the world has moved on from the horrors of 7 October and indeed seems now to sympathise with the perpetrators, in Israel, the trauma for the whole country is still a reality. We felt it everywhere but most acutely from those who suffered directly and told us heart-wrenching stories.

Whether it was the brother of a murdered girl whose bullet-ridden house we visited on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, or the policeman who was on duty at the Nova Festival and saw Ilona, his colleague, shot dead through the chest by his side, or the 69-year-old man who was in his safe room with his family for 30 hours before being rescued, we saw the inner strength and determination of Israeli people to move on and rebuild society in a positive way.

There is still incredulity coupled with anger at those who failed in their duty to protect the citizens of Israel. The inquest and holding to account must happen before the pillars of stability can be rebuilt.

The issues they focus on are how to memorialise their deceased family and friends in an appropriate way and that Israel must be secure for the future. They are determined to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. Their courage brings tears to our eyes as well as admiration.

Civil Society

We have all heard of the way that civil society responded to what was an existential threat, but witnessing it was both uplifting and awe-inspiring.

The Healing Space in Rishpon, near Herzliya, which was created in the immediate aftermath of 7 October to support the survivors of the Nova festival massacre with yoga and alternative therapies, operates in an idyllic setting on land owned by a private family. It has been so successful that it now looks after members of the Police and the IDF.

Israel’s National Food Bank, Leket, which has for years used surplus food supplies to support underprivileged Israelis, has scaled up its operations to serve the victims and displaced communities as a result of the war. This charities volunteer workforce operates a large facility serving communities nationwide with incredible efficiency.

The Services
We met soldiers of the IDF at an Iron Dome battery, at a base where the weapons and vehicles of the terrorists are collected, and at the memorial for fallen soldiers. We met members of Magen David Adom at a state-of-the-art blood bank. We met members of the police force. We met health service workers at Saroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva looking after wounded soldiers.

The dedication and integrity of all of them is inspiring. They are proud of the work they are doing and the contribution they are making. The soldiers of the IDF accept their responsibility for the tragedy that happened, but they are absolutely determined to show that they have the ability and unwavering dedication to restore security for the country and rebuild the military deterrence to prevent it happening again.

The Government

We had privileged access to briefings by a government strategist, to a meeting with President Herzog in his home, and to the Prime Minister who took questions in the boardroom in his office. They are clearly all under pressure from the current situation, and there is no indication that the prime minister has any intention but to see through the campaign in Gaza and, if necessary, tackle Hezbollah in Lebanon. The discussion was all about the short-term issues which are well-publicised, and in my opinion, there is a lack of vision for the future.

Lasting impressions.

My big takeaway from the mission is the incredible resilience of the Israeli people. They will never forget what happened on 7th October and indeed, they will keep it at the forefront with memorials and tributes forever. However, it will not prevent them from carrying on with life. This was the message from the man from Kfar Aza who wants to return there with his family or the brother of one of the victims who wants to turn her house into a permanent memorial. The wounded soldier who I met at Saroka Medical Center and may never walk again had great pride and inner strength.

This is a country at war, and yet there are rush-hour traffic jams on the roads and busy restaurants in the cities. Life is continuing, and despite the worries and debates about the future, I found an underlying belief that there will be a successful future.