PM Netanyahu shown attending 50th Independence Day torch lighting
Contradicting claims by both past Knesset speaker Dan Tichon and current speaker Yuli Edelstein, footage airs showing PM Netanyahu attending torch lighting ceremony in 50th Independence Day during his first term in office; PM Netanyahu spoke briefly at the ceremony, in a manner reminiscent of speeches by torch lighters; previously, Speaker Edelstein said he would refrain from attending ceremony if PM was there, as was Culture Minister Regev's original plan.
Footage was released Tuesday of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participating in Israel's traditional torch lighting ceremony for its 50th Independence Day, during his first term in office—thereby lending credence to Culture Minister Miri Regev's desire to have the premier attend the ceremony this year.
The public spat between Regev and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, who said last week he will refrain from attending the ceremony if the prime minister was to attend, began with an initiative by the culture minister to have both Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin attend the ceremony, in contravention of the usual protocol for the event.
Footage aired by Channel 10 News and the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation Tuesday, however, showed parts of the 1998 torch lighting ceremony, with Prime Minister Netanyahu marching alongside then-Knesset speaker Dan Tichon, reaching the grave of Visionary of the State Theodor Herzl and then speaking.
"I, Benjamin, the son of Benzion Netanyahu, native to the State of Israel and its prime minister on the 50th year of its existence, hereby have the honor to reiterate statements made by the country's first prime minister David Ben Gurion," Netanyahu said then, using the same formula often used by torch lighters themselves.
The prime minister then went on to read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence.
The incontrovertible of Netanyahu's attendance as prime minister stood in contrast to statements by Tichon to Yedioth Ahronoth this past Sunday. "Netanyahu never even dared asking to participate in the torch lighting ceremony," the former speaker said. "His wife would always attend flanked by his two sons, and they would sit behind me without any involvement on their part."
"There are enough ceremonies in Israel in which the prime minister participates," Tichon continued, "but this ceremony represents that which unites and brings us together."
Tichon's mistake was originally pointed out by Doron Shmueli, who served as director of the organization that put together the 50th Independence Day ceremony. Shmueli said Tuesday in different media outlets that the initiative to invite Netanyahu to the ceremony was his own.
"Had Netanyahu asked to come himself, I would not have allowed it. I thought it was fitting for the prime minister to come in to read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, but he most assuredly was not giving a speech."
The office of Knesset Speaker Edelstein responded only to say that their position "remained unchanged," whereas Culture Minister Regev said, "The claim that 'tradition should be upheld because this has never happened' has proven to be false. What was appropriate for the stateliness of our 50th Independence Day, is surely appropriate for the 70th as well."
"What did not perturb then-speaker Dan Tichon, should certainly not disturb current speaker Yuli Edelstein," she stated.
