The prestigious Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem has decided not to invite either Prime Minister Naftali Bennett or Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu to take part in the traditional Jerusalem Day festivities. To avoid making the celebrations a political event, it was decided that in lieu of a speech by the premier, President Isaac Herzog and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, in addition to a number of rabbis, will deliver remarks at the event.
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News of the yeshiva considering not inviting Bennett to the celebrations, which traditionally are attended by the Israeli premier, was reported last week. Due to the uproar caused by the report, yeshiva leaders decided Netanyahu would not be invited to attend either to ensure the celebrations would be an apolitical event.
Nevertheless, yeshiva officials are liable to change their minds at the last minute and invite one of the two senior figures.
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