Israelis chanted against the far-right Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, during a ceremony commemorating the soldiers killed since 1948, while a number of them left the event in protest against a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that the ceremony was held in more than one cemetery, including the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in West Jerusalem, while a number of them left during Netanyahu’s speech.
Netanyahu said in his speech: “We are determined to win the battle. We will pay a heavy price from the enemy,” adding: “We will achieve the goals of victory, and at their heart is the return of all hostages to their homeland, but the price we pay is very high.”
The opposition, protesters, and families of prisoners accuse Netanyahu of failing to achieve the main declared goals of the war, which are the elimination of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the return of prisoners held by the resistance.
Israelis chanted, “Leave, you criminal,” during Ben Gvir’s speech in Ashdod.
According to the newspaper, the screams of the families of the dead and prisoners became louder when Ben Ghafir entered, and his supporters tried to silence the chanters by saying, “Leftist traitor.”
According to the Broadcasting Authority, fistfights also broke out during Ben Gvir’s speech between his supporters and opponents.
At the entrance to the military cemetery, about 10 people protested before the arrival of far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smortic.
The Broadcasting Corporation quoted Smotrich as saying at the cemetery: “We failed, and I bear responsibility for what was and what will be,” referring to the Al-Aqsa flood battle on October 7th.
During Defense Minister Yoav Galant’s speech, the families of the dead soldiers also raised a banner reading, “Their blood is on your hands,” in reference to the soldiers killed in the war on Gaza on October 7.
Families of dead soldiers also attacked Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel and shouted at her: “What are you doing here? Go back to your home. Why were the soldiers killed?”
The opposition accuses ministers, led by Ben Gvir and Smurtic, of preventing the conclusion of an agreement with Hamas for a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire, by threatening Netanyahu to withdraw from the government, which means toppling it.
The families of the dead soldiers had sent letters to Defense Minister Gallant asking him not to allow the ministers to speak on the anniversary, which did not happen, as the ministers were distributed to all the cemeteries.
Source : Tel Aviv Tribune + Agencies + Israeli press