Transportation Minister Miri Regev sparked controversy on Thursday when she gave details on the national memorial ceremony marking the anniversary of the October 7 tragedy when comment she made on those who boycotted appeared to draw comparisons with those memorializing terrorists with their victims in Israel.
The briefing comes as several communities near the Gaza border have announced they will not take part in the event. Tensions are rising due to strong emotions among area residents, who argue that the ceremony's nature does not align with local values and the losses they have suffered.
Responding to a question from Israel Hayom, the minister added that she does not oppose holding additional ceremonies in parallel, stating: "I call on everyone to participate and unite around the (national) ceremony. It's possible to hold an alternative ceremony, just as some hold an Israeli-Palestinian ceremony on Memorial Day. There is only one state ceremony."
Nahal Oz responded to the minister's remarks, saying: "We've said what we needed to say and are now focusing on how we'll commemorate the day in our own way. The government's ceremony is not relevant to us."
Reven quickly tried to contain the damage, saying, "I did not say that the kibbutzim are holding ceremonies with Palestinians. I did not compare the kibbutz ceremonies to the Israeli-Palestinian ceremony. I said that there can be alternative ceremonies on the seventh, just as there are alternative ceremonies on Memorial Day, for example, an Israeli-Palestinian ceremony, but there is still only one national ceremony on Memorial Day as well."
Regev opened her remarks by saying, "We are paying a heavy price in a war that could not be more justified. The people of Israel embrace the bereaved families, and it is our duty to continue the war so that it will not be in vain until we bring back all the hostages."
Amid reports that the government was considering canceling the ceremony, Regev clarified that it will proceed. "I'm here today to set the record straight and explain the values underpinning the ceremony marking one year since the horrific massacre. This ceremony belongs to all of us as a society and a nation. It's been a year since the day that turned from the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah into a day when the gates of hell opened."
"This ceremony belongs to all of us as a society and a nation"
"I understand the feelings of those angry at the state, the government, the military, and the security forces. There was indeed a major failure, and I too have difficult questions, but the time for that will come," the minister added. Addressing the protest by massacre victims against holding the national ceremony, she said, "I'm willing to take hits, and I am taking hits from various directions without people knowing the facts. I ignore the noise and will continue to lead this ceremony as I did previous ones, out of respect for those who are angry and critical."
Minister Regev emphasized that "it's impossible not to commemorate the massacre's anniversary in a national manner, and the Israeli government was right to decide to hold a national ceremony. Just as we are working for the evacuees, the government decided to preserve and honor their dignity."
"There's no home in the country without a brother, acquaintance, relative, or neighbor who hasn't experienced this tragedy and pain. We are one people and one nation. I approach this with utmost reverence," Regev stressed.
"Although I always face criticism, I see it as my duty to lead the ceremony with sensitivity to those who are angry. The decisions for this ceremony stem from being sensitive to all the various factors involved. The national ceremony will express three values that reflect what we have experienced and are still experiencing. It's a dark day, but there's always light and hope behind the darkness, and we will continue to act until we bring everyone back and remove the threat from the south and north."
"Now, let me address the work I've done with the production company and the information center: The event will be held in the south in places that suffered heavy losses. Secondly, the chosen production company is still selecting suitable locations for the ceremony; nothing has been agreed upon with any party yet, so the headlines about refusals are premature."
"No one has been invited to the ceremony yet. The ceremony will be held without an audience out of respect for the memory of those killed and all the groups that were supposed to take part. So the ceremony will be without an audience to honor everyone who should have been invited. The ceremony will not be broadcast live to allow communities to hold their own ceremonies as well."
