From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Kfar Saba mayor asks government to reconsider sending Smotrich to speak at Memorial Day ceremony
Family members of victims of the October 7 Hamas massacre are asking government ministers and lawmakers to refrain from speaking at Memorial Day ceremonies later this month, citing concerns that the day will be tainted by the presence of divisive politicians, whom many blame for the failures surrounding the Hamas terror assault.
Following the publication of a list of ministers and MKs who will attend ceremonies at military cemeteries across Israel, Kfar Saba Mayor Rafi Sa’ar criticizes the decision to send Smotrich to his hometown.
“We are in a difficult period, the winds of the country are turbulent and the heart still aches and bleeds for the loss of our best sons and daughters on Saturday October 7 and throughout the ensuing war,” he says in a request for the government to re-examine the decision.
“In Kfar Saba, we are working to maintain unity in our communities and I believe that precisely because of the request from many grieving families and against the backdrop of the difficult emotions, it would be worthwhile to reexamine the issue and hold ceremonies this year without the involvement of political parties,” he adds.
Speaking to Army Radio, Eyal Eshel, whose daughter Roni Eshel was killed on the Nahal Oz military base, says he has been attempting to contact Smotrich since yesterday to ask about his planned attendance at the ceremony at the Kfar Saba military cemetery.
“Why would you come here? Is this part of an election campaign?” he asks of the far-right minister. “I won’t prevent him from coming here, but I can ask him not to talk or deliver a speech.”
Amid safety concerns, the number of attendees at the annual Memorial Day ceremony on Mount Herzl later this month will be reduced to 25,000 people, down by about 5,000 from 2023, Hebrew media reports.
The decision to limit the number of participants was made by the Defense Ministry, after the Israel Police handed over the responsibility for ensuring the safety of the event in light of the Meron disaster inquiry.
