Bereaved parent group reiterates call to keep politicians away from Memorial Day events

Eli Ben-Shem, chairman of Yad Labanim, the largest bereaved family organization in Israel, reiterates his call to keep politicians away from Memorial Day events, warning there will be “disturbances.”

Speaking to Channel 12, Ben-Shem, whose son was one of 73 soldiers killed in the 1997 helicopter disaster, says bereaved families are bitterly divided over the government’s judicial overhaul attempts that critics say will undermine Israel’s democracy.

“The bereaved families are divided — families whose children were killed in the same tank, in the same battle, who used to spend Shabbatot together, are not talking to each other today. It’s terrible. There’s a deep rift. There’s a deep rift in the Israeli people. … There are lots of families who don’t want politicians [to come to the cemeteries and Memorial Day events next Tuesday,]” he says.

He singles out several politicians who had not served in the military, particularly far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was not drafted for mandatory military service by the IDF because of his extremist activities.

“There are six politicians who didn’t serve in the IDF, which the families absolutely do not want to come… 100 families have told me they won’t let Ben Gvir into the cemetery. They’ll throw eggs at him,” Ben-Shem says.

Parents have already petitioned to bar Ben Gvir, who is scheduled to speak at a ceremony in Beersheba.

“In Ra’anana, Kiryat Gat, Rehovot, families will cause disturbances [if those non-IDF-serving politicians come]… What you saw with MK Bismuth is a small taste of what’s going to happen on Memorial Day,” he says referring to Likud MK Boaz Bismuth was forced to leave a Holocaust memorial ceremony at a Tel Aviv synagogue after being jeered by the crowd.

Ben Shem says he has relayed his concerns to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and organizers.