Wartime Diaries: Oran Almog
In the impossible arithmetic of hostage transfers, how does it feel to be told that the terrorist who shattered your world will walk free?
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Ten-year-old Oran Almog, from Haifa, spent the morning of October 4, 2003 with his extended family at the beach. They all played, swam and enjoyed the pleasantly warm rays. At lunchtime they entered a nearby restaurant – Maxim – to get a bite to eat. Shortly thereafter a suicide bomber detonated herself right next to their table, killing Oran’s father, little brother, grandparents and cousin. Oran himself was severely injured and lost his eyesight.
Almost 22 years later, Sami Jaradat, the mastermind of that deadly attack, was released as part of the most recent hostage deal with Hamas. This pushed Oran to grapple with two conflicting forces: his pain and his pragmatism.
The end song is Achshav Tov (“Good Now”) by Gilad Segev.
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