Divisions haunt Israel in days of independence and remembrance

The contradictions that make up Israel – its economic and military might, its deep divisions and vindictive policies – were on full display on Tuesday as the country mourned its fallen soldiers and began celebrating its 75th independence day.

The dramatic transition from Israel’s Memorial Day to its landmark anniversary, which should have been a stunning show of unity beyond the usual noise of Israeli politics, comes at a time when the country is facing one of the most severe crises in its history. The events reflected the woes of a nation preoccupied not only with external enemies but also with internal conflicts.

Supreme Court

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government’s plan to overhaul the judiciary sparked widespread discontent and sparked weeks of protests that brought cities to a standstill. Critics fear that these changes will weaken the Supreme Court and undermine the country’s democratic character. Netanyahu and his supporters argue that an overhaul is needed to rein in a liberal and overly interventionist tribunal of unelected judges.

The fighter pilots threatened to stop coming to duty. High-tech investors are considering moving. The country’s leaders openly warn of civil war. After weeks of massive protests and divisions within his own coalition, Netanyahu said he would put the overhaul on hold in the hope of finding a compromise.

On Tuesday, controversy and protests over a judicial crisis erupted at several burial sites, creating what many Israelis see as an unworthy backdrop for the most solemn day in Israel’s national calendar, honoring 24,213 war dead and 4,255 militant casualties. attacks.

Honoring those who died in the war

At a cemetery in the southern city of Beersheba, Homeland Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attended and spoke at the Memorial Day ceremony, even after bereaved families urged him to stay away, or at least not speak on behalf of the government. When he was 18 years old, Ben-Gvir was banned from compulsory military service on the basis of his extremist ideology and convictions for inciting racism and supporting a terrorist group.

Even before Ben-Gvir appeared at the cemetery, brawls and insulting cries broke out between his supporters and opponents. Some participants poured water on each other after the ceremony.

In Tel Aviv, a group of families of the victims held a separate ceremony to avoid visiting cemeteries and associating with right-wing politicians, whose presence prompted cries of “Shame!” from the protesters.

“This year, the Israeli people are torn between extremists,” said Israel Shur, who attended an alternative ceremony in Tel Aviv near the building where Israel’s independence was proclaimed 75 years ago. “We don’t want to stand up to politicians who bring their agenda to our sacred place.”

As is customary, people across the country stood still for two minutes as air raid sirens wailed late in the morning. Motorists and pedestrians froze in the street, got out of their cars and stood with their heads down. Families of the dead visited cemeteries, and television and radio broadcasts switched to dark music and documentaries about the dead soldiers.

“Citizens of Israel, this year’s siren, the intense Israeli call, is a wake-up call for all of us. The cost of internal strife is high,” Israeli nominal leader Isaac Herzog said on Monday evening.

In a speech at a ceremony at a military cemetery in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the lives of several fallen soldiers and spoke of the “brotherhood” of the Israeli people, a kinship reinforced by the military service that is compulsory for most Jews.

“We will stand together as brothers and ensure our independence from generation to generation,” Netanyahu said. “We will bow our heads to the bravery of the fallen.”

75th Independence Day

After sunset on Tuesday, the country moved from melancholy contemplation to roaring celebration, kicking off its 75th Independence Day to the sound of trumpets and drumming. The mournful ballads performed at the military cemetery on Mount Herzl turned into pulsating dance melodies. The dark space was lit up with flashing blue and white lights.

Netanyahu sought to emphasize national unity in his pre-recorded address at the mass commemoration. “To do this together is to cry together at memorial services and celebrate Independence Day together,” he said.

But even as the party began and Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana began lighting the first of 12 torches representing the 12 tribes of Israel, crowds of anti-government demonstrators poured into the streets of central Tel Aviv. They unfurled a huge banner with a burning torch and the inscription “Democracy”.

The protesters also scheduled demonstrations for Saturday, the 17th week in a row. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, is due to resume work next week after a break for national holidays.

Independence Day celebrations went off smoothly despite fears of unrest. Transport Minister Miri Regev, who is overseeing the ceremony, ordered the event’s organizers to turn off the live broadcast in case of anti-government protests, Israel’s leading television program, Channel 12 News, said.

Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, but the holiday, like all national holidays, is celebrated according to the Jewish calendar. Palestinians usually commemorate what they call the “nakba” or “catastrophe” of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of them fled or were forced to leave their homes during the May 15 war over the creation of Israel.

This year’s commemoration comes at a time when Israeli-Palestinian fighting in the occupied West Bank is reaching heights not seen in years. Shortly before the sirens wailed on Tuesday, the Israeli military said an Israeli had been wounded in a Palestinian shelling in the West Bank.

A day earlier, Israeli security forces killed a Palestinian in a raid in the West Bank and five people were injured when a Palestinian rammed his car into pedestrians near a popular Jerusalem market before being shot to death.

Israel has been involved in half a dozen wars with neighboring Arab countries, participated in two Palestinian uprisings, and has survived many deadly militant attacks since its founding in 1948.