PM regrets sending no gov't reps to Yom Kippur War memorial
Anger sparked as gov’t fails to sent representatives to Jerusalem Yom Kippur memorial; presence of President Rivlin, Deputy Speaker Bar suffices according to protocol, says Ministry of Defense; PM; 'Regrettable mistake.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized Sunday evening for failing to send any government representatives to attend the memorial service for soldiers killed in the Yom Kippur War held earlier at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl Military Cemetery.
The service was attended by President Reuven Rivlin and MK Hilik Bar (Zionist Union) as representatives of the state.
"I apologize for the fact no government representatives attended the memorial service for fallen Yom Kippur War soldiers. This is a regrettable mistake and I apologize wholeheartedly to the bereaved families," Netanyahu said.
"I've instructed the Government Secretariat to ensure starting now a government representative will be present at all ceremonies for Israel's fallen soldiers. This is a duty of unsurpassed magnitude to our loved ones who fell in battle so that we may live," the prime minister added.
Also in attendance were Supreme Court Justice David Mintz, GOC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and families of the fallen.
A statement issued by the Defense Ministry however, refuted the charge that a government official had to be present at such a ceremony.
"According to rules of protocol, the official memorial ceremony for the Yom Kippur War fallen held this morning at the Memorial Hall requires the presence of one representative of the state. The state was represented at the ceremony by His Excellency President of Israel Reuven Rivlin and Deputy Speaker of the Knesset MK Yehiel (Hilik) Bar," the statement read.
"In addition, senior representatives from the IDF, Israel Police, Ministry of Defense, Supreme Court and bereaved families' organizations attended the memorial," it continued.
Despite the fact protocol was fulfilled for the ceremony, former prime minister Ehud Barak lashed out at the government on his Twitter account. "Shameful and infuriating. Desecrating the fallen warriors. Where are Bibi and his ministers? Up to their ears with the job law? A political ceremony in Gush Etzion? Undermining the Supreme Court? A moral low. Time to go home," Barak scathed.
"A government that does not respect the past, suffers from a meager present, and a downfall awaits in it in the future," added Labor Party Chairman Avi Gabbay on his Facebook page.
"Shameful. No other word can suffice to describe what happened today at the Mount Herzl memorial for fallen Yom Kippur soldiers. 2,222 people, each with parents, brothers, sisters, brothers in arms—some of whom were there today—all carrying a heavy and painful burden from that war, and no minister deigned to attend and look them in the eye," Gabbay accused.
"I was a minister myself in October 2015 and was told a Yad LaBanim (an Israeli organization that works to commemorate Israel's fallen soldiers and accompany bereaved families—ed.) ceremony was about to take place without any ministers in attendance. I shuffled my schedule around and went myself. It's the least I could do for families who have lost everything. Anyone who's ever glanced at a minister's appointment book knows most of it is political meetings. One hour, once a year. That's all the families are asking!" he exclaimed.
"The battle is not yet over. Increasing motivation for combat soldiers among new conscrips is a national challenge. The nation's survivability is built on its endurance and our endurance is based on excellence and morality, determination, striving to resolve a conflict, heroism and the purity of arms. These values, this strength, have helped turn the tide of battle and subdue our enemies," President Rivlin said during his speech at the ceremony.
"The Yom Kippur War was the time of combat soldiers, the time of the junior command. The bitter, beautiful time of the army of the people."
Rivlin concluded his speech by speaking directly to the bereaved families in attendance. "For the fallen and for you all, the Yom Kippur War will never be over. Beloved families, may we be worthy of your sacrifices. May the memory of your loved ones, our sons and daughters, be affixed on the heart of the nation for generations to come," he said.
