Netanyahu (L) and Edelstein
Photo: Marc Israel Sellem, Amir Salman
Agreement on Netanyahu's participation in torch lighting ceremony ends spat
Ending an acrimonious public spat between Minister Regev and Knesset Speaker Edelstein, an agreement is reached whereby PM Netanyahu will participate in the traditional torch lighting ceremony for Israel's 70th Independence Day—contrary to protocol.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the traditional torch lighting ceremony for Israel's 70th Independence Day, where he will light a torch and say a few words, Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev announced Sunday evening.
"I am happy that personal matters have fallen from the agenda and logic and statehood have won," Regev said. "It adds honor to the ceremony, to the state and to society."
PM Netanyahu (Photo: AFP)
The office of Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein stated that "the agreement was reached with mutual respect and a sincere desire to end the dispute over Israel's 70th anniversary celebrations."
"According to the understandings reached, the prime minister will deliver a torch on behalf of the Israeli governments and say a few words of blessing as it is lit," Edelstein's office clarified.
This comes on the heels of an acrimonious public spat between Regev and Edelstein, with the former wishing for the premier to attend along with President Reuven Rivlin and the latter threatening to boycott the ceremony if that happens.
The discord was further prolonged earlier that day after Regev objected to an agreement between Netanyahu and Edelstein, whereby the prime minister will attend the ceremony only once a decade, nearly torpedoing mediation efforts between the two.
Minister Regev (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Regev explained that she believes it is "more correct and democratic that the final decisions regarding the events of the next decade will be accepted by the government in place during the events (a decade from now)."
In the statement on the resolution of the dispute, the agreement between Edelstein was confirmed to be cemented.
Regev, a staunch supporter of Netanyahu, claimed last month that according to the suggestion by the Knesset Symbols and Ceremonies Committee, it would only be right to let the prime minister speak at the event once every ten years.
"The idea that Netanyahu will speak (at the ceremony) came from both me and him," Regev made clear on Army Radio on Sunday morning.
In response to Regev's proposal, Edelstein distributed a letter Thursday to all 120 Knesset members, which was obtained by Ynet, in which he explained why its adoption would result in his absence.
Knesset Speaker Edelstein (Photo: Yitzhak Harari / Knesset Spokesmanship)
“There is no doubt in my mind that if its national character is erased, the fire will come out of the torches and stoke the disagreements between us. We cannot lend a hand to this,” he wrote.
Would Edelstein have refused to attend the ceremony, all other members of the Knesset would have also been absent.
