The Human Aspect of Yonatan
I felt my entire belief system and narrative of the world was a lie and that I had been deceived. Growing up in a mainstream community and family in Israel with a father serving as a fighter pilot my path was set. During one of my missions as a rescue helicopter pilot my truth of doing this to serve and protect my country from the threatening others, was questioned by the contrast I saw. Later I saw myself through the eyes of a young Palestinian man in a dialogue meeting, and suddenly I realized that it didn't matter that I never dropped any bombs, because I was still part of the oppressing system. Sitting there in this realization I was filled with shame and guilt. Once I decided to stand up against what I now saw as war crimes and wrongdoings from the inside, I knew I would lose both friends and community, but also challenge the relationship with my own father.
I felt my entire belief system and narrative of the world was a lie and that I had been deceived. Growing up in a mainstream community and family in Israel with a father serving as a fighter pilot my path was set. During one of my missions as a rescue helicopter pilot my truth of doing this to serve and protect my country from the threatening others, was questioned by the contrast I saw. Later I saw myself through the eyes of a young Palestinian man in a dialogue meeting, and suddenly I realized that it didn't matter that I never dropped any bombs, because I was still part of the oppressing system. Sitting there in this realization I was filled with shame and guilt. Once I decided to stand up against what I now saw as war crimes and wrongdoings from the inside, I knew I would lose both friends and community, but also challenge the relationship with my own father.