(New York Times) Bret Stephens - Israel stood still for a moment last week to bring home the remains of Sgt. Zachary Baumel, a soldier who perished in battle in Lebanon in 1982. Anyone who has lived in Israel understands the importance of keeping faith with the fallen and bereaved. Israel is a young and improvising state resting atop an ancient civilization. At the heart of the civilization is common memory. The Israeli government spent 37 years tracking Baumel's remains to Syria and negotiating their recovery through Russia. The country will expend similar efforts to bring home other fallen soldiers held in enemy hands. It's the core of the Jewish state's social contract. It may not be able to keep its people safe, but it will never forget or forsake them.
2019-04-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive