Olmert's decision bittersweet victory, say bereaved parents
Families who lost loved ones in Second Lebanon War relieved by PM's decision to step down, admonish him for not taking personal responsibility for war during announcement. Multiple fatalities is not something to be proud of, they say
For many of the Second Lebanon War's bereaved families, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's announcement that he would not be seeking reelection was a bittersweet victory that spelled a certain relief, but very little else.
Moshe Moskal, David Einhorn and Ilan Moreno lost their sons during the Second Lebanon War and have been leading the campaign for Olmert's replacement ever since.
The announcement, they said, did not feel like much of a victory. This is a sad day for Israel, which is seeing a failed prime minister go home.
As far as they are concerned, however, the recent slew of police investigations against the PM was simply the final straw. They can date the beginning of his downfall some two years back, when he decided to send their sons to a war from which they did not return.
The three watched Olmert make his announcement on Wednesday in near-disbelief. The dramatic speech did not mention the war; not one word was uttered as to its consequences; Olmert has yet to own up to his part in its failures.
"All he did was pat himself on the back. I want him to look me in the eye and answer me this: Is 121 fatalities something to be proud of?" asked one parent.
The faith in Olmert has been shaken to the core. So much so, that even now they refuse to believe he will, indeed, step down. This too, they fear, may turn out to be just another media spin.
The problem, they said, extends beyond their own personal, tragic loss. The problem now is a mass loss of faith in leadership, morals and values. "We have to act as the red flag," added another. "We have to make sure this never happens again."
