Why did you let you son be a combat soldier? 'I was naive. I truly believed Israel sought peace'

On the line with Yael Lee, a psychologist whose son is an IDF soldier serving in Lebanon. 'I gave him a patriotic education. I taught him the world is a good place, that he would be taken care of. I'm educating my younger son more cynically'

Haaretz
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Why did you let you son be a combat soldier? 'I was naive. I truly believed Israel sought peace'

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Credit: Adi Raveh

On the line with Yael Lee, a psychologist whose son is an IDF soldier serving in Lebanon. 'I gave him a patriotic education. I taught him the world is a good place, that he would be taken care of. I'm educating my younger son more cynically'

Nir Gontarz

12:58 AM • June 05 2026 IDT

Hello to Yael Lee from Rehovot. Thanks for agreeing to talk to me. You're the mother of O., who is now in Lebanon.

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