After concern, Remembrance Day ceremonies largely pass quietly

Remembrance Day ceremonies in military cemeteries across the country ended on Tuesday with few disturbances, after over a week of controversy with bereaved families calling on politician not to attend the ceremonies, and politicians across the aisle pleading for Israel’s citizens to respect the holiness of the day.

A few disturbances occurred at the Beersheba military cemetery, where a number of people raised signs against the minister, called out for him to leave, and even some attending to sing and drown out his speech. A small number of arguments broke out between the protestors and people who requested that they remain silent. At the end of the speech some people clapped.

ועוד לפני הטקס, תמונות קורעות לב מבית העלמין בבאר שבע בעימותים בין משפחות שכולות, כולל חילופי קללות עם רינה מצליח, אחות שכולה, בעצמה. הרקע הוא הנוכחות התקשורתית ובכלל נגד מצליח שלא נשארת חייבת. pic.twitter.com/kg7TJL4t7T

— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) April 25, 2023

The Beersheba cemetery included heavy security, and some cemetery goers complained that this led to long lines in order to enter the cemetery.

Another minor disturbance occurred in Ashkelon, where a woman held up a sign as Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi began to speak, reading “You go to hell,” after the minister said a number of weeks ago that the protestors against the government’s judicial reforms should go to hell.

Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attends a memorial ceremony marking Israel’s Remembrance Day, when the country commemorates fallen soldiers of Israel’s wars and Israeli terror victims, in Beersheba, Israel, April 25, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/NIR ELIAS)

Other calls occurred ahead of Environment Protection Minister Idit Silman’s speech in Kiryat Anavim.

In Isfiya, a Druze town south of Yokne’am, people blocked Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel from entering the town’s military cemetery. Gamliel eventually left and did not visit the cemetery.

In Nachalat Yizhak, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis announced that he would give the time allotted to his speech to a bereaved mother. The announcement was met with some clapping.

אלימות ודחיפות בין משתתפי טקס יום הזיכרון בבית העלמין ברחובות בזמן נאומו של שר הבריאות והפנים משה ארבל. במשך דקות לא נתנו לו להתחיל בנאום ושרו את ההמנון. pic.twitter.com/jnISzxi2CA

— Adir Yanko (@adiryanko) April 25, 2023

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