Delay in Mt. Herzl memorial ceremony sparks arguments
Arguments breaks out after bereaved families believe the Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived late to the ceremony; President Rivlin admonished those who started protesting, saying: 'What a shame it is to desecrate the honor of the fallen.'
Shortly before the ceremonial proceedings got underway, some of the aggrieved families began expressing fury over the fact that the ceremony, which started at 11:00am as it does each year, was apparently changed to begin one hour later.
Some families, more enraged than others, decided to recite the traditional memorial prayer for the fallen soldiers and leave the ceremony despite it being the first one to have been attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
During his speech, President Reuven Rivlin criticized the families who staged the protest. “It is regrettable that you were caused so much distress. The decision was made to hold the memorial ceremony every ten years, attended by state officials, so the families would not be bothered by security arrangements each year. Because of (the fact the ceremony is held once every 10 years), we made great efforts to be here,” he said. “A question was raised as to why prime ministers do not attend the ceremonies and why there isn't a memorial every year. So now, the prime minister has come. This reception is completely unnecessary. What a shame it is to desecrate the honor of the fallen."
Speaking after President Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also apologized for the delay and the anguish caused to some of the family members before stressing the importance of national unity.
“You are sitting between the graves. No one was differentiated then, and should not do so today, between the left and the right, between this or that part of society. They were all fighters for the people of Israel. This is the correct way to respect their memory,” said Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement clarifying the reasons for the confusion over the ceremonies starting time. “The state memorial taking place now was scheduled in advance for 12:00pm. It was coordinated by the Defense Ministry. The prime minister arrived at Mount Herzl at 11:47am and entered the procession with President Rivlin and the chief of staff. The prime minister was not late and anything stating otherwise is untrue. The inconvenience caused to those present during their arrival and at the entrance was due to the construction of the Hall of Valor at Mount Herzl and due to the funeral processions of Miriam Eshkol, (wife of former Prime Minister Levi Eshkol), which will take place at the site in two hours.”
During the Suez Crisis in November 1956, Israel, in cooperation with Britain and France, conquered the Sinai Peninsula from the Egyptians in order to stop the blockage of ships in the Gulf of Eilat. During the operation, 172 Israeli soldiers were killed, three were declared missing and one was captured.
In regards to the operation, Netanyahu said, "We did not have the support of the United States then, and as a result of not having that support, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion was forced under American and Russian pressure to retreat from the Sinai very quickly. Well, things have changed since then. We are currently in a tremendous international bloom, but the cornerstone of our relationships is our steadfast alliance with the United States."
"We are extremely appreciative and thankful for this support," continued Netanyahu. I never forget that and as such, I admire and appreciate the agreement we made with Barack Obama about security aid to Israel. I expect that at the end of his term Barack Obama will stand by his 2010 statement that the way to peace is not through Security Council resolutions, but through direct negotiations with the Palestinians, as was the position of the United States over the years."
