Since last October 7, Maoz Inin has only one slogan: “Not in my name”. It’s the same slogan used by those opposing wars on terror in the early 2000s. Maoz is a 48-year-old Israeli citizen. He organizes tours to the Holy Land and his company operates several hostels that promote sustainable tourism. He has three brothers and a sister, grandchildren and two loving parents.
On October 7, his life, like that of many Israeli citizens, changes dramatically. That day, Hamas attacked the moshav (cooperative farming community of individual houses) of Netiv HaAsara, where its people lived, steps away from Gaza. Maoz says he called his father on the morning of that terrible Sabbath. He was told that a rocket attack was planned and that he and his mother would hide in the shelter. This was the last conversation he had with her. The house was completely destroyed by a Hamas missile.
He remembers his parents as peaceful people and his father, an agronomist, as an incorrigible optimist. He said that every year the harvest would be better than the previous year. Maoz believes this, too, and has been trying to honor their memory by planting, in his words, “seeds of peace” since last October 7. And his story is also emblematic of a secular and progressive country that harshly opposes the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and does not justify Israel’s massive military intervention in Gaza in recent days. Maoz agreed to tell his story to Today.it.
Maoz, how did your commitment to peace come about?
“I never saw myself as a pacifist activist. Paradoxically, I think my family could also be described that way. In the Jewish tradition, there is a mourning period that lasts seven days: it is called ‘Shiva’. After this period, I felt myself. I had a very clear mission: Helping bring hostages home, working for a ceasefire, getting Netanyahu to resign, and creating a peaceful future where Palestinians and Israelis can finally live in peace between Jordan and the Mediterranean are all interconnected. Our north stars should be the values of justice, unity, and equality. This has been a month. It was my commitment.”
Have you ever thought of taking revenge?
“The feeling of revenge is very human: we are the only creatures that think about it. But ultimately it is up to God, not us. We must use the tools of forgiveness and reconciliation. Look where hatred and revenge have led us.” … We must make room for rationality: How many more people need to die to achieve a solid and lasting peace? “Revenge will never give me my family back.”
What is your opinion about the Netanyahu government?
“Netanyahu has completely betrayed the promises he was elected to, that is, to guarantee the peace, security and stability of the government. Not only has the government failed to guarantee all of these, but it has also betrayed Israel, my family and now the citizens. Hamas has hostages in their hands.” .
How Did Netanyahu betray his people?
“He was the one who made this disaster possible, and he can no longer be part of the solution: he will be considered the worst Israeli prime minister in history. The state of Israel was born with a single premise: the progroms and horrors of the past will disappear.” Thousands of Jews were murdered during the Netanyahu government: nothing like this has happened in more than 80 years. “He betrayed our founding values and then dragged us into a senseless war that threatened our very existence.”
What are you risking?
“If his agenda persists, this senseless spiral of hatred and mourning will continue because, unfortunately, all Western leaders support him. All of this is both a shame and a disaster. For everyone: Israelis and Palestinians.” ”
What do you think about Hamas?
“Hamas is a fundamentalist terrorist organization that effectively oppresses the people of Gaza and kills Israeli civilians, but its power and popularity are indirectly fueled by our government’s policies. That’s why terrorists want the war to continue and tensions to remain high. Ultimately, it’s a cycle of hatred.” “It only evokes more hatred. We must immediately declare a ceasefire, bury our dead, heal our wounds and work for a peaceful future.”
Are Hamas and the Netanyahu government part of the same problem?
“I will just say this: Nothing was done to stop the preparations that led to the October 7 massacre. The terrorists certainly did not improvise. My parents and their neighbors noticed this from gunfire, paragliding tests and the widespread use of motor vehicles. He said Hamas might be preparing something.” “The government did nothing. Why? Because Netanyahu betrayed his citizens, he only cared about himself, not the victims.”
What is the difference between the kibbutzim where your parents lived and the new settlements on the West Bank that are at the center of today’s news?
“All the communities attacked by Hamas militants are within the international borders of the State of Israel, which was established in 1948. Another issue is the new settlements in the West Bank, which are supported by this government and are illegal. These are only possible with the existence of the Israeli army and its violation of international law.” “The annexation of the country to our state is the exact opposite of the experiences and values my family embraces.”
What can be done to end this spiral of violence?
“We must press internationally for an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages: the entire international community must be involved in this.”
What do Israelis and Palestinians have in common?
“Israelis all have a kind of siege syndrome, we think that the world is against us and we constantly feel like victims. The same thing often happens with Palestinians. We are like two lonely children living side by side. This loneliness has left us both helpless. We should not feel alone anymore and “We need an international commitment that will help us live together and look at the values that should be dear to us both: equality, peace and justice. My family, many of my friends and too many Palestinian civilians cannot put an end to the hatred and look to the future.”
What could be the solution?
“I am not a politician, I am not a diplomat, I have no solution, but it is clear that we need an international summit like in the past. We must strive not to turn into more bloodbaths, we must not surrender to the logic of terrorism. We must continue to seek peace and dialogue: every time we did not do this, things got worse .”
So what is the premise?
“Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government should resign immediately.”
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
