Seventy bereaved parents, those who lost their children in defense of the nation, have announced they will not be attending the official 70th Independence Day torch lighting ceremony. They maintain the Yad L’Banim organization exerted pressure on them not to attend.

Bereaved parents affiliated with the Ohr L’Mishpachot (A Light to the Families) organization were supposed to take part in the torch lighting event. The choir numbers 70 bereaved mothers and fathers who give up attending private family events in exchange for performing at the event and attending many rigorous practice sections. These very same parents now claim they did not boycott the event, but rather they were informed they performance was canceled. They point an accusing finger at Eli Ben-Shem, head of Yad L’Banim, stating he pressured event organizers to cancel the performance of the parents.

Amos Shalev, who lost a son, a pilot who fell in the Second Lebanon War, and a member of Yad L’Banim. He too blames Yad L’Banim for having them ousted from the program. Speaking to Walla News, Shalev says “This was to have been a momentous occasion for me, as the NGO established the choir six months ago.” The parents singing in the choir view it as an opportunity to thank those who have fallen.

Parents explain there was much double talk as no one was willing to speak with them to the point.

Others explain their performance was to have been one of many choirs, and they were never told they performance would be exclusive.

Walla quotes Eli Ben-Shem saying, “I do not know what they are talking about. I am not aware they are supposed to appear. I do not know what their performance is.

Walla turned to the Ministry of Culture & Sport for a measure of clarification, but no response was received at the time of publication.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)