Sneak Peek: Amit Segal on why Israel can't address its long-term problems, and more...

Dan Senor (0:00)

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Amit Segal (1:13)

You are listening to an Arc Media podcast.

Dan Senor (1:24)

Welcome to Inside Call Me Back, our members-only edition where we open the door and let you shape the conversation. And speaking of conversations, let's jump into it in the hot seat. Addressing your questions and personal dilemmas is Arc Media contributor Amit Segal. Amit joins us from Jerusalem. Welcome back to the inside.

Amit Segal (1:42)

Thanks for having me.

Dan Senor (1:44)

Amit, before we get into the questions, there was this horrendous news yesterday regarding an Israeli soldier in critical condition, who is the son, Neryeh Leiter, the son of Israeli ambassador to Washington. Yachil Leiter, you and I spoke late afternoon yesterday when you and I were both getting the word about this. I was actually supposed to meet with Ambassador Leiter yesterday, but obviously he had to cancel, and he let me know he had to dash back to Israel. But can you tell us maybe a little bit about the family and then what actually happened yesterday and why the story is attracting the attention of so many of us?

Amit Segal (2:19)

So Yachil Leiter has been in Netanyahu's entourage for the last 30 years. He worked when he was the head of the opposition who fought the Oslo Accords in the 90s, then his advisor in the treasury ministries at the beginning of the century, and today he is the Israeli ambassador to Washington. Appointed the Israeli ambassador to Washington two months after his son Moshe, a platoon commander, was killed in Gaza at the very beginning of the ground offensive.

Dan Senor (2:51)

And he was in the Shaldaug, in Shaldaug, just like his special forces, pretty elite fighter, right?

Amit Segal (2:56)

Absolutely. Yeah. He was killed, by the way, one of his soldiers was Elisha Meydan, who was heavily injured, critically injured, and today he's a candidate in the liquid list. So there are many, many connections here. It was a very famous incident. Now, Leiter was appointed the Israeli ambassador to Washington, and last night, or last afternoon, it's from time, he got a phone call telling him that his second son, Neria, was injured while in a reserves guarding a checkpoint between Judea and Samaria and Israel. And it's worth noting that every bereaved brother is exempted from military service in reserves. But Neria insisted on going again and again to serve as a reservist for 400 days over the last three years.

Dan Senor (3:48)

So his unit was being deployed and they said to him, you can stay back. And he was like, no, if my unit's going, I'm going.

Amit Segal (3:54)

You should stay back. And it means that he really tried to serve his country. And there he was injured. Now, I can't imagine the horrific flight back from New York City to Tel Aviv 12 long hours when you're under the impression that it's your son's last hours.

Now, luckily, Neryaz's situation now, Neryaz's condition is slightly better than even his father had thought. He had gone through an eight-hour long brain surgery in order to help him survive the situation. And we all hope he'll survive it.

Dan Senor (4:30)

If folks are interested in learning more, the episode of ARC News Daily that was released today, Thursday, opens with Ambassador Leiter and the story of his family and this tragic development with Nerea. And there's some very moving clips, audio clips in it from Ambassador Leiter that's worth listening to. We'll include that in the show notes. And obviously, we are truly praying for Nerea and the entire Leiter family.