From the Liveblog of
Thursday, April 20, 2023
At request of bereaved families, government shares list of ministers at Memorial Day ceremonies
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The government makes public the list of ministers attending official Memorial Day ceremonies on Tuesday, as tensions are high over expected political demonstrations and outbursts during proceedings.
Some bereaved family groups have called on ministers who did not serve in the IDF to stay away from official ceremonies and military cemeteries. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said that ministers must be allowed to attend, but has called on all lawmakers to avoid political statements.
According to Ynet, the list was publicized at the request of bereaved family groups, and is not normally distributed ahead of the holiday. No coalition lawmaker is slated to attend events in Haifa.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who did not serve because he was barred due to his extremist background, is slated to attend a ceremony in Beersheba, where he is likely to be met by protesters.
Minister May Golan, who did not serve after purportedly lying about being religious, is slated to attend an event in Rishon Lezion. UTJ lawmakers Yitzhak Goldknopf and Meir Porush and Shas’s Michael Malkieli — none of whom enlisted — will also be attending ceremonies.
The Times of Israel Community.