Against the backdrop of ongoing political turbulence over judicial reforms, the government and the Opposition are poised to put aside their differences next week as Israel marks Memorial Day and Independence Day, Israel Hayom has learned.
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Israel's representative organization that commemorates the memory of Israel's fallen soldiers, Yad Labanim, called on politicians to suspend their political bickering to honor the fallen, prompting Israel Hayom to turn to leading figures on both sides of the divide to respond. Following that query, the offices of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and State Party Chairman Benny Gantz indicated they would support a quadrilateral statement that would meet Yad Labanim's request. Netanyahu's bureau also asked the organization's Chairman Eli Ben-Shem to draft the language of that public appeal.
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu called on Israeli politicians from his government and the Opposition to keep protests at his judicial overhaul plan away from annual remembrances for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks. Netanyahu's spokesperson reiterated the prime minister's call to "preserve the sanctity of Memorial Day." Gallant soon followed suit and said that "we [the government] would be happy to cooperate in having this day honored," while Lapid echoed his comments, saying, "We would support every initiative that would honor the fallen's memory and the bereaved families during that day." Meanwhile, an organizer of the televised 75th Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem that will follow Memorial Day next week said cameras would cut away from anyone trying to disrupt it.
Israel has been swept by unprecedented street demonstrations since Netanyahu's Coalition introduced reforms that would rein in the Supreme Court. He says the goal is a balance of powers. Critics fear for judicial independence. Despite a late-March pause, Netanyahu ordered on legislation to make room for compromise negotiations, protests have persisted and may overshadow the country's Memorial Day and Independence Day, which take place back-to-back next week.
Faced with the prospect of solemn family visits at military cemeteries for Tuesday's Memorial Day being disrupted, Netanyahu issued a video statement asking that the bereaved "be allowed to commune in silence with the memory of their loved ones".
"Over recent months, an argument that is important for democracy has been waged within us. But during these days, I request that all public officials, from right and left, put aside that argument," said Netanyahu, whose elder brother Yoni was killed leading a 1976 rescue of hostages at Entebbe. After nightfall, Israel's Mount Herzl military cemetery will be transformed with pageantry to usher in Independence Day.
Moshik Aviv, director of the ceremony, said a recording of a rehearsal was on hand to cut to should the event be disrupted by members of the audience – who, he added, would be screened for any items that might be used to mount a protest. "We don't want to engineer perceptions, but we do want to convey our main message, which is that the substance of the ceremony is what is positive and unifying," he told Army Radio.
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