Mother of freed hostage: 'Now is time to fulfill Israel's divine destiny'

(JNS) - Ditza Or, mother of Avinatan Or, who survived 738 days in Hamas captivity, said on Wednesday that the Jewish people stand at a historic crossroads.

"Now is the time to advance the national dream of the people of Israel, the fulfillment of divine prophecy and the ultimate redemption of all humanity," Or said in an address to "The Future of Judea and Samaria" conference in Jerusalem.

She described her son's return as part of the current ceasefire with Hamas as "a wondrous miracle." Avinatan, the second of her seven children, was raised in Shiloh, the first capital of ancient Israel, wher...