A Government 7/10 Memorial Ceremony? No Way.

We all know that there is little if any consensus in Israel about a whole slew of issues. There is no need to list the subjects of controversy, anyone familiar with Israel knows this to be true. However, on a few certain occasions, controversy was put aside and some sort of consensus was agreed up for a short period of time.  I am talking about Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), and Yom Ha-atzmaut (Independence Day). Of course, there was Arab and Haredi opposition (or at least silence) to these days but I am talking about “mainstream Israel” (for lack of a better term). Within that majority, everyone grieved together and celebrated together (or at least in their own way). Yes, I know that there was opposition to the way Ben Gurion set up these days by a few certain people.

Even the official ceremonies had a very unifying effect. Together, we would stand in silence, go to the cemeteries, listen the radio programs, be in awe at the knowledge of the kids in the Bible contest, or watch the awards handed out to people who made huge, unique contributions to Israeli society.

However, over the last few years, even these ceremonies have become just one more battle ground, one more arena for self-appointed gladiators to fight their political opponents. Consensus be damned, people feeling very righteous took it upon themselves to disrupt the ceremonies and let the government know just how bad they are.  If memory serves me correctly, this opposition to the presence of government ministers started with the Bennett-Lapid coalition.  This type of demonstrating then skyrocketed during the current administration (even before the war). The idea of putting differences aside for a few days took body blows.

In general, I oppose these demonstrations or demands that government ministers not attend ceremonies. The government is the government, whether we like it or not (full disclosure: I don’t like the current government. They need to go, fast). The ministers are the face of the state. They have to be at these state ceremonies. In addition, Yom HaShoah and Yom Zikaron are so filled with gut-wrenching emotions that having people scream at a minister attending the ceremony (he may simply be representing the government, not giving a speech or playing any active role) causes needless additional pain to the families of the fallen.

All of the above is true for the three days mentioned: Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron, and Yom Ha-atzmaut. Now, a new ceremony is being proposed: 7/10 Memorial Ceremony. Right from the moment that it was proposed, people said “We don’t want anything to do with it”. Whether it be the families of the fallen, or singers, or even the towns where the massacres took place, plenty of people have screamed out “NO” to the idea of a government ceremony.

In practice, there won’t be anything to protest because the entire ceremony will be pre-recorded, with no audience in attendance. I have no doubt that this is being done because the minister running the program, Transportation Minister Miri Regev, knows perfectly well what will happen if there is an audience at a live ceremony.

Which is too bad. I would love to see the official ceremony disrupted. There is a huge, day and night difference between disrupting those ceremonies and this ceremony. David Ben Gurion didn’t cause the Holocaust. Naftali Bennett didn’t cause the countless wars here nor did Benjamin Netanyahu. It was their right and duty to show up at these ceremonies. That isn’t the case about the 7/10 Memorial Ceremony.

This war will forever be associated with PM Netanyahu and his policies. He was the one who went from promising that “Hamas will be destroyed” to “having Hamas in power serves Israel’s interests”. Bibi was the one who fed Hamas and kept them alive. He (along with the military) was convinced that Hamas was cowed before Israel’s might. In his arrogance, it never occurred to him that Sinwar had his own plans.  That being the case, Netanyahu and his ministers cannot in any way whatsoever have any part in commemorating the day that they created.

To all the people who refuse to take part in the government ceremony – more power to you. To all the people who plan on attending the alternative ceremony – I am with you. Given Netanyahu’s adamant refusal to take responsibility for what happened (at least in Hebrew), I don’t expect him to do the one thing that would justify a state ceremony – Netanyahu announcing his resignation.