'Fauda' actor and Israeli singer Idan Amedi has appealed to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, responsible for Israel’s state memorial ceremony for those killed in the October 7 Hamas massacre and subsequent war, asking her to accept President Isaac Herzog's compromise and hold a unified state ceremony without political symbols in order to include the communities affected by Hamas’ attack who so far refuse to participate in it.
"Good week, Miri. I'm writing to you with an open heart," Amedi, who was seriously injured while fighting in Gaza, wrote in response to a post by Regev on Facebook. "God and you are my witnesses that I've praised you more than once in the past long before the disaster that befell us and when the issue of hostages and missing persons was far from national and media attention. So, I hope what I'm about to write won't fall on deaf ears."
"Speak with the prime minister, accept President Herzog's compromise for a single, unifying ceremony at the President's Residence, without politics. A compromise on this issue won't diminish you and isn’t a surrender on your part. On the contrary, we need more compromises between us during this bloody period. Let's give ourselves the chance, despite the disagreements, to cry together, to find comfort together over our lost loved ones," Amedi wrote.
The singer, who was seriously injured in Gaza at the start of the fighting, added: "When Menachem Begin was elected prime minister, a journalist asked him, 'In what style will you lead the nation?' Begin replied, 'In a good Jewish manner.' Act this way, for all of us. Maybe we'll succeed in bringing peace among us during this dark year."
Amedi's words come following President Isaac Herzog's proposal that the state ceremony be held at the President's Residence without political symbols, due to the dispute that has developed between the sides and "in the interest of lowering the flames."
According to the president's statement: "The ceremony, which would be coordinated by the President's Residence in ongoing and attentive dialogue with the relevant state and social bodies, will be respectful, unifying, state-oriented and modest, and of course, will be held without any political symbols.”
“The ceremony will include traditional state elements such as lowering the flag to half-mast and reciting Kaddish, Yizkor, and El Maleh Rachamim (Jewish prayers of mourning), as well as additional content to be determined with joint coordination. Government officials and representatives from all communities whose worlds were shattered on October 7 will be invited to the ceremony,” Herzog wrote.
Now, Amedi is making another appeal to Regev after she responded to him last week, writing: "Dear Idan, our hero. I'm sorry that the false things presented in the media misled you," following his response to her remarks saying the claims against holding the state ceremony were "background noise."
3 View gallery
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog
(Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen/Pool)
"I also agree with you; we must unite and act together. When I spoke of 'background noise,' I was referring to those who incite against me, harm me, compare me to [Yahya] Sinwar, and threaten my life. At no point was it about bereaved families, families of hostages, or any other communities. Watch the things I spoke about during the briefing yesterday. Unfortunately, the media distorts, misrepresents and divides. We’re siblings,” she added.
Amedi, for his part, suggested that Regev accept the president's compromise to hold a state memorial ceremony at the President's Residence in order to end the protests on the matter after several kibbutzim around the Gaza border and hostages’ families announced they wouldn't participate in the state ceremony organized by the government.