Israel is divided as it celebrates statehood’s 75th Anniversary

 

The 75th anniversary of Israel's founding was celebrated there on Monday evening, with authorities urging togetherness despite bitter political disagreement over the country's new far-right government's policies.

Israelis have protested every week for the past four months in opposition to the new coalition's plans for a judicial overhaul, which opponents claim endangers Israel's survival as a democratic state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israelis to set aside political disagreements and concentrate on "the great wonder called the State of Israel" while speaking to the crowd during the day's ceremonial torch-lighting ceremony in Jerusalem.

“Take a look at all the marvels we've worked on in the last 75 years. We have overcome the Holocaust to reach the pinnacles of resurrection,” he continued.

“We can only accomplish our objectives as a team... Knowing that we share a single state, one people, and no additional lands is what it means to be united.”

Despite the request, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to demonstrate against the government concurrently with the ceremony in Jerusalem.

The protest comes after a number of Israelis earlier on Monday expressed outrage and carried out similar activities on Memorial Day. The ceremony honors those who died while protecting the nation, including terrorist attack victims.

Fighting broke out at a cemetery in Beersheba as rituals took place all over the nation because of the appearance of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose speech was cut short by cries from the audience.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was greeted in Tel Aviv by a banner that claimed his administration was leading Israel closer to a dictatorship. At different memorial services, other pastors received jeers and interruptions, and some were prevented from attending by demonstrators.

The government's revamp of the judiciary would, among other things, restrict the authority of the courts, including the Supreme Court, and increase the role of politicians in selecting judges and other legal representatives.

When parliament meets for its summer session at the end of the month, the process to put them into action is expected to resume.

The revision is required, according to Mr. Netanyahu's coalition, which includes members of the far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish movements as well as his Likud party.