Israeli premier heckled at Memorial Day event

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked were heckled Wednesday at separate Memorial Day events marking the remembrance of fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorism, local media reported Wednesday.

At a memorial service at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl cemetery, some families among the audience shouted at Bennett, calling him a "traitor," "pushover" and "swindler,” said the news outlet The Times of Israel.

Bennett was silent for several minutes before resuming his speech.

“The bereaved families are sacred. They can shout and they can grieve,” he responded.

Hours earlier, the wife of one protester held up a sign protesting the government as Bennett spoke during another event at Mount Herzl honoring fallen troops, the outlet reported.

“Bennett, someone who formed a government with terror supporters, is not welcome here,” it said.

It was referring to the ruling coalition government’s inclusion of the United Arab List party, or Ra’am, a religious Arab Muslim party.

According to the outlet, Shaked was jeered while speaking at a memorial ceremony in the city of Petah Tikva for the same reason.

The report said that such protests have become relatively common in recent years, including when members of previous governments spoke at Memorial Day ceremonies.

However, the heckling of Bennett was particularly protracted, it noted.