Grief enters politics - and here is the line | Liora Minka
An opinion column by Liora Minka examining the entry of bereaved family members into Israeli politics ahead of the Knesset elections. Minka argues that grief can and should be present in public discourse, but sets a clear boundary: it must not become a 'stamp of approval' for a particular political stance, and no party should claim ownership over the memory of the fallen.
An opinion column by Liora Minka, published in Maariv, addresses one of the most sensitive issues in Israeli society: grief and its intersection with politics. Minka discusses the inclusion of bereaved family members in various party lists for the 2026 Knesset elections, outlining the boundaries of proper discourse. She emphasizes that a person who has lost their dearest does not lose the right to express a political opinion, and that the voices of the bereaved can enrich public discourse by bringing the cost of war into the discussion. However, Minka sets a clear boundary: the fact that a person belongs to a bereaved family does not make their position more correct, and certainly does not represent all bereaved families. She warns against attempts by politicians to claim ownership over memory, which harms the shared space and social cohesion. Minka concludes with a call for understanding that grief cannot serve as a 'stamp of approval' for a political stance, and that one can empathize with a bereaved person's pain while disagreeing with their political conclusions.