Israel sets October 7 as annual commemoration date amid controversy

Despite the many issues that are currently the subject of bitter controversy in Israel, on March 17 the government decided to hold an annual national commemoration of the events of October 7 and Operation Iron Swords. This year, the commemoration will take place on October 7; thereafter, it will take place on the 24th of Tishrei (or the following day, if the 24th falls on Shabbat), two days after Simchat Torah.

The government decision mentions that those responsible for organizing the event are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who is responsible for organizing national events; the Ministry of Defense; and those in charge of national ceremonies and events at the Prime Minister’s Office.

It was decided that the ceremony to commemorate fallen soldiers in the war would be held at 11 a.m., while the ceremony to commemorate civilians killed on October 7 would be held at 1 p.m. No further details were provided about the ceremonies and the events that accompanied them.

It is clear that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to separate politics from the need or desire to commemorate the events that have occurred since the Hamas mega-atrocity.

We all agree that the events since 7 October began with a cruel, unprovoked and murderous attack by Hamas against Israeli areas adjacent to the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the merciless murder of 1,200 people of all ages, the kidnapping of some 250 people as hostages and the transfer of 80,000 people from their homes in the Gaza Strip and along the border with Lebanon for security reasons.

Miri Regev arrives for a special government conference on Jerusalem Day, June 5, 2024 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

There is also a consensus that Israel had no choice but to retaliate, not out of feelings of revenge, but because of our right to defend ourselves and prevent a future repetition of the events of October 7. But beyond the technicalities of the commemorative ceremonies (the sirens, the firm stand, not celebrating holidays, possibly closing restaurants), that consensus ends.

Some believe that the heads of the security forces and the political leaders bear equal responsibility for the catastrophic events of 7 October and should resign or be dismissed as soon as possible. Others believe that the only culprits are the security forces and that the political leaders are blameless. Among them are Netanyahu and Regev.

There are those who believe that the situation calls for immediate new elections, which would probably result in a change of government. Others believe that as long as the war continues, in one form or another, new elections should not be held. Many of them (including, according to some, the prime minister, although he has denied this) are also willing to prolong the war precisely to avoid elections for as long as possible.

Although most Israelis want a decisive victory over Hamas, many also believe it is vital to recover the remaining 109 hostages – 36 of whom are determined to die, at almost any cost, before they are all killed or killed – and temporarily end the war and allow Hamas to survive a little longer.

IN FACT, it is impossible to produce a single version of the events of 7 October and the war that followed that would satisfy everyone. I doubt we will ever reach agreement on a single version, but certainly not before the current situation is resolved or at least eased, allowing us to at least return to a semblance of normality.

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The effects of October 7th.

However, depression and trauma, both among the civilian population directly affected by the events of 7 October and those that followed, and among those who participated in the battle, will persist for many years to come. For them, normality is an almost unattainable goal. Moreover, if a solution to the Palestinian problem is not found, normality will never be achieved.

Another obvious difficulty is that many of the victims of 7 October are not willing to have anything to do with the official events organised by the government. While the southern towns of Sderot and Ofakim, where massacres took place on 7 October and from which hostages were taken, are willing to cooperate with the government in the commemorative ceremonies, not all the kibbutzim in the Gaza border communities that suffered the same fate (just in greater numbers); nor is the Forum for Hostages and Missing Families.

The disdain, indifference and even neglect that the kibbutzim have suffered from the government in general, and from the prime minister and transport minister in particular, have also created an attitude of “we don’t want their honey or their sting.” The families of those killed at the Supernova music festival and the survivors are also feeling despondent for the same reasons.

Regev, his voice full of contempt, compared initiatives for alternative ceremonies to commemorate October 7 to those organized by Israeli and Palestinian families every Remembrance Day. He apparently considers alternative ceremonies a form of betrayal.

Regev has described as “background noise” the protests by hostage families against Netanyahu’s failure to do everything possible to bring back their loved ones as soon as possible, before they all die, and the objection of many groups and individuals to the ceremonies the government is planning for October 7. He added that this “noise” will not prevent him from organizing a filmed national ceremony, without a live audience and with a pre-recorded speech by the prime minister.

President Isaac Herzog has offered to help unravel the chaos and hold a live memorial ceremony at his residence, though the chances of this happening are slim. Even if Netanyahu and Regev accept this offer, they are unlikely to stay out of the narrative that would accompany the ceremony.

Trying to achieve at least a minimum of unity and consensus within the Israeli population does not seem to be on the agenda of either Netanyahu or Regev.

The writer worked in the Knesset for many years as a researcher and has published numerous journalistic and academic articles on current affairs and Israeli politics. Her most recent book, Israel’s Knesset Members: A Comparative Study of Permanent Employment It was published by Routledge.

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Israel sets October 7 as annual commemoration date amid controversy

ByS. Jacob

The effects of October 7th.

By S. Jacob

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