Knesset speaker threatens to boycott Israel 70th event over plans for PM to speak

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein has told organizers that he will boycott the annual torch-lighting ceremony that marks the start of Israel’s Independence Day and prevent any involvement from parliament officials if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushes ahead with a demand to speak at the event.

Since first held in 1951, on Israel’s second birthday, the Knesset has hosted the ceremony with the Knesset guard opening the evening and the Knesset speaker being the most high-level official to speak. Despite being the most highly regarded of all Independence Day celebrations, neither the prime minister or the president speak at the event so as to help it appeal to all sectors of Israeli society.

This year however, Education and Culture Minister Miri Regev, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, has told the ceremony’s organizing committee that given it is the 70th anniversary of Israel, the prime minister will be speaking.

Responding to Eledelstein’s threat, Regev said the Knesset speaker was “turning the state event into a publicity opportunity for himself.”

Hitting back, Edelstein says: “It pains me that for the first time in Israel’s history, the Culture Minister is trying to damage the ceremony, which has always been a pure and beautiful expression of the unity of the people of Israel.”