The closure will be conducted in a similar fashion to that of Passover • The decision still requires government approval • Police clarified: "We will not stop bereaved families at the cemeteries' gate, a checkpoint is a kilometer away" • Fallen families were called to the cemeteries over the next few days
PM Benjamin Netanyahu // Photo: Jonathan Zindel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday decided not to allow bereaved families to visit the cemeteries during Memorial Day, due to the danger of being infected with the Corona virus.
The decision was met at the end of a hearing led by him on the format of memorial days and independence in the shadow of the Corona crisis. The meeting was attended by defense ministers, internal security, health and culture, the chief of the army, the commander-in-chief, the director-general of the Ministry of Health, the head of the government and the director general of the defense ministry.
Following the recommendation of the representatives of the commemorative organizations, it was decided, subject to government approval, that this year in view of the danger of contagion, the arrival of the cemeteries and memorial sites on Memorial Day will not be possible. The police will close the access routes to them. The bereaved families were called to live in the days leading up to Memorial Day, limited visitation visits to the cemeteries, in accordance with the restrictions of social remoteness.
In addition, memorial ceremonies will be held without an audience. Also, symbolic ceremonies will be held in the military cemeteries with the participation of a small number of soldiers and commanders without a crowd, and these will be broadcast to the public in a format determined by the Ministry of Defense. On Independence Day, a general closure will be imposed, in a similar format to Passover. The motion for a resolution will be brought to the government's approval as soon as possible.
The police representative said: "We will not confront bereaved families. We will not arrest bereaved families at the gates of the cemeteries, but checkpoints about a kilometer from the cemeteries. Yad Lebanese chairman Eli Ben Shem said: Cemetery but this week. "