Many thousands accompanied the final journey of Sha’ar Hanegev Council Head Ofer Liebshtein ob”m, murdered in an exchange of fire with Hamas, who came to massacre the council members. The minister and war cabinet member Benny Gantz said at the eulogy: “We will not stop until the heaven of the Western Negev is rebuilt. I personally intend to live in this heaven.”
He continued: “The Liebshtein family so dear to me, today before exactly three weeks, in this hour, before the Black Shabbat, I was with you at home. A home of sons, Ofir said to me. I had the privilege of hearing Ofir again talk of his 95% heaven, which became 100% hell one morning. I simply loved him. And I still love him. The head understands, and the heart refuses to absorb that Ofir is in past tense.”
“Sorry for not saving you”
“We are now at war over the ‘what.’ From the place we occupy, it’s hard to see the ‘red south’ Ofir led. It’s hard to see communities. It’s hard to see how the combination of the words Kfar and Aza go together and how they can connect. From a quiet and communal place to a place where monsters burst forth. From the place we occupy, it’s hard to see the heaven.”
Gantz addressed the terrible failure, saying “I am here despite the difficulty and the pain, to tell all of you, first and foremost: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not succeeding in saving you, sorry for not succeeding in protecting you this time, that we didn’t succeed in saving Ofir and all of you.”
“I personally intend to live in this heaven”
“And I am here to promise you and all the citizens of Israel, that we will not stop, until we realize the dream of Ofir and his friends and that we will rebuild a 100% heaven. For the initiatives of Ofir and his vision to happen, for the heaven of the Western Negev to be rebuilt. I personally intend to live in this heaven we will rebuild in the Western Negev area.”
“We are at war not only for your home, the residents of the (Gaza) Perimeter, but for everyone’s home. It will take a lot of time, the war in the south, and if need be also in the north or anywhere else, it may take months, but the building will take years. And only when it is completed – we will win.”
“After the war, after we win, in every field we fight, we will be devoted to this mission of building. Because Ofir lived for the hope, for the country, for his community and for his family, and he fell for them. We will also live and fight for that goal. The story of Ofir, is a story of love and darkness. Now, it is dark. My dear Ofir, I love you and miss you, thank you for the privilege of knowing you. We will continue your path. We have determination, we have love, and it will win.”