While visiting Ohr Akiva Mimouna festivities on motzei yomtov, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told reporters that development in the north and south of the country would continue along with Yerushalayim.

Accompanied by his wife Sara, they celebrated the Mimouna feast with the Fahima family, partaking in some of the treats prepared as the Moroccan community hosts in another annual Mimouna festival.

Also honoring Mimouna participants with his presence was President Shimon Peres, who hailed the fact that close to 7 million Jews are in Israel. He praised the current security situation, adding this was the quietest Pesach ever. Also accompanying the president were Sephardi Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Amar Shlita and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

While for Israel’s Moroccan community Mimouna is a long-standing tradition, it has become a stage for the political elite to mingle and release well-calculated statements to the media.

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni took part in festivities in Sderot, and then traveling to the capital of the Negev, Beersheva.

Minister of Industry & Trade Binyamin Ben-Eliezer took part in launching the event as he does annually, from the Beit Shemesh home of a city councilman. Also present in Beit Shemesh was Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon.

Minister Dan Meridor made his appearance at the Maale Adumim Mimouna while Defense Minister Ehud Barak took part in festivities in Netivot.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)