Colonel Eyal Eisenberg, who has commanded the Givati Brigade
for ten months, was in the rear command headquarters, outside
of the Gaza Strip, when the Armored Personnel Carrier
exploded in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood in the middle of
May this year. He hurried to the scene and directly commanded
the complex and dangerous search for the soldiers' remains,
so that they could be brought to burial in Israel.
Eisenberg spoke to Ma'ariv reporter Amir Buhbut.
During the search, you met Palestinian civilians who knew
what you were looking for. Were they all hostile or did you
encounter any glimmers of understanding?
"I do not expect understanding from them. Let's put things on
the table. I have no expectations from the Palestinians.
Their scale of values and mine are different."
Did a Palestinian ever approach you and show you where
there were remains of a soldier?
"No, definitely not. It was a combat situation, under fire.
Soldiers were injured but in the end, we brought our soldiers
home. I haven't told this to anyone but in the midst of this
operation, we assisted a baby being born and evacuated an
elderly woman who was injured, and summoned a local ambulance
for her. Terrorists ran and fired from behind the ambulance.
Therefore, I do not want to make any comparison between our
scale of values and theirs.
"If my soldiers can assist a Palestinian woman giving birth
when six of their comrades have been blown to bits in the
street and, at the same time, they fire at us from behind an
ambulance, you must understand that we are at opposite ends
of the scales of values. They are at the very bottom."
Do all the weapons and explosives come through the
tunnels?
"I can't tell you with certainty what comes from where but I
think that a good portion does come through the tunnels."
Eyal, what should I wish you?
"Don't wish me anything. Wish that the Givati Brigade
continue as it is, doing a good job. Wish the Israeli people
a little satisfaction. I wish that the Israeli people had the
unity and patience that my brigade has."
