Head of organization for fallen troops warns tensions high ahead of Memorial Day
Eli Ben Shem says bereaved families divided over judicial overhaul, with some opposed to politicians attending: ‘They’ll be pelted with eggs’
The head of a memorial organization for fallen Israeli soldiers warned Sunday of potential chaos and even violence at official Memorial Day commemorations next week, amid deep societal divisions over the government’s plans to overhaul the judicial system.
Eli Ben Shem, chairman of Yad Labanim, said his group has been contacted by thousands of bereaved families asking that politicians be prevented from attending memorials on April 25, with many viewing members of the government as unwelcome.
“Politicians who didn’t serve in the military will come to some cemeteries, and the families already said if they do, they will be pelted with eggs at the entrance,” Ben Shem told Channel 12 news.
He noted some families “think otherwise and want politicians to come,” and that therefore Yad Labanim was not taking a position.
“The organization is composed of all sectors of the grieving family. Families whose children were killed in the same tank, from the same unit, who would have Shabbat together — they’re not speaking with each other today because of the situation,” he said.
“I don’t know what the solution is and I’m not envious of the decision-makers, because someone needs to take responsibility for what will happen afterward,” Ben Shem added.
He expressed concern there could be violent scenes, citing “very big threats from here and there,” without elaborating.
“I’m afraid there will be violence, that they won’t allow politicians to speak,” he said.
Ben Shem noted that one man whose son was killed in Lebanon has been phoning him daily to ask what has been decided regarding politicians’ attendance.
“He asked me to inform all the decision-makers that he’ll stand at the cemetery entrance with a megaphone and won’t let any politician speak. This is very emotional,” he said.
The Yad Labanim head said representatives of the organization would air these views during a meeting with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Transportation Minister Miri Regev slated for Monday.
Memorial Day, set to begin the evening of April 24, sees large swaths of the Israeli public visiting the graves of loved ones who have been killed in army service or terror attacks.
Many of the ceremonies at cemeteries around the country feature speeches by ministers. If the call from families is heeded, it would be the first time that politicians would be barred from speaking at the events.
Many members of bereaved military families have joined nationwide protests against the government’s controversial judicial overhaul.
Protests against the government’s plans to shackle the country’s judiciary have entered their 15th week, with demonstrations continuing amid a violent terror wave, even after the coalition paused the legislation late last month to allow dialogue on its highly divisive efforts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition’s judicial overhaul proposals aim to weaken the court’s ability to serve as a check on parliament, as well as give the government almost absolute control over the appointment of judges.
Critics say the plans will politicize the court, remove key checks on governmental power and cause grievous harm to Israel’s democratic character. Proponents of the measures say they will rein in a judiciary that they argue has overstepped its bounds.
The attorney general has warned that the coalition’s current package of legislation would hand the government virtually unrestrained power, without providing any institutional protections for individual rights.
The Times of Israel Community.