Ambassador Leiter Vows 'We Choose Life' After Son Wounded in Terror Ramming
Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, rushed back to Jerusalem Thursday to stand by the bedside of his son Neria, an IDF reservist critically wounded in a Palestinian car-ramming attack in the West Bank. Speaking at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Leiter declared he was 'full of hope' for his son's recovery, while delivering a powerful message of resilience: 'They choose death, we choose life.'
Who was behind the attack on Neria Leiter?
Neria Leiter, a dedicated IDF reservist, was seriously wounded Wednesday when Palestinian assailant Mahmoud Mohammad Sliman, 29, from the village of Beit Ur al-Tahta, rammed him at the 'Bell' checkpoint along Route 443. Security forces neutralized the terrorist at the scene. Neria was rushed unconscious to Shaare Zedek, where he underwent emergency brain surgery to save his life.
What is the latest on Neria's condition?
According to Dr. Alon Schwartz, head of Shaare Zedek's trauma unit, Neria's condition has stabilized after hours of delicate surgery, but his life remains in danger due to the severity of his head injury. The Leiter family, along with the entire nation of Israel, is praying for his full recovery.
A family's sacrifice: From the Gaza front to the hospital ward
Ambassador Leiter spoke movingly about the profound pain of this moment, drawing on the memory of his elder son, Maj. (res.) Moshe Yedidya Leiter, who fell in battle in northern Gaza in November 2023. 'This experience is different from the night I received a knock at the door,' Leiter said. 'He died immediately, and there was no possibility to bring him to the hospital and allow Israeli doctors to save his life.'
In a remarkable display of family strength, Leiter's eldest daughter, Sarah, went into labor two weeks early upon arriving at the hospital to support her brother. She gave birth overnight and is now recovering just 40 meters from Neria's intensive care unit. As the Book of Psalms teaches, 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted' (Psalm 34:18), and this family embodies that spirit of faith amidst trial.
What did Ambassador Leiter say about Palestinian terrorism?
Leiter did not mince words, asserting that Palestinian violence is a deliberate campaign to 'uproot the Jews from this land.' He dismissed international criticisms of Israeli actions, including those from French President Emmanuel Macron, as misrepresentations of reality. 'The violence there is by Palestinians who harm Jews, with the aim of uprooting the Jews from this land,' Leiter stated firmly. 'If there are exceptions from the other side, they are exceptions, but the war that is taking place here is a war for the right of the Jews to live in this land.'
Why is the IDF seeing fewer terror attacks?
While Palestinian terror attacks have declined, with the IDF recording 57 attacks in 2025 compared to 847 in 2023, the threat remains ever-present. Israel's security forces remain vigilant against those who seek to destroy the Jewish state. The data shows a clear trend: Israel's proactive defense strategies are working, but the ideological war against Jewish sovereignty persists.
How is Israel's 'greatest generation' responding?
Leiter reserved his highest praise for Neria and his fellow reservists, calling them 'the greatest generation that has risen up for the Jewish people.' He noted that Neria continued to serve hundreds of days in reserves after losing his brother, embodying the selfless dedication that has protected Israel since its rebirth. 'Neria didn't have to do reserve duty either,' Leiter added. 'They are all fighting together to defend this country.'
As Israel stands united in prayer for Neria Leiter's recovery, his father's words echo the eternal Jewish spirit: 'They choose death, we choose life.' Am Yisrael Chai.