"He could have been a superstar": 40 years without Ron Arad

Forty years since the fall of navigator Ron Arad in captivity. His comrades from military service recall his image as a brilliant man, a wonderful friend, and an exceptional athlete, describing the hope that faded over the years. Alongside the memories, sharp criticism arises regarding the state's conduct, which abandoned him, and the lesson that was not applied even in the case of the hostages.

Forty years have passed since navigator Ron Arad fell into captivity, and his comrades from military service return to the person they knew. Prof. Amitai Ziv, Nissim Yogev, and Ronen Merav reconstruct Arad's image as a brilliant, analytical young man, a wonderful friend, and an exceptional athlete. They recall his nickname "Chuko," his charming absent-mindedness, and the sharp intellect that characterized him. Alongside the warm memories, a deep sense of missed opportunity and sharp criticism of the State of Israel's conduct arise. The friends describe how the hope of seeing him faded over the years, and point to the failure in abandoning him, drawing a comparison to the hostages of October 7. "The most important lesson that Ron's story teaches us, a lesson that even the current government has not implemented, is that when people are alive, you must bring them back as quickly as possible and at any cost," says Merav.