Radio host Eli Ohana defended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers on Sunday on 103fm after criticism that they did not attend the funeral of Battalion Commander Gdalia Ben Simchon, who was killed in fighting in southern Lebanon. Online commenters had initially claimed the reason was that Ben Simchon was from a kibbutz, but it was later reported that the family had asked that politicians not attend.
Ohana said security requirements make it difficult for a prime minister to appear anywhere, calling it “a story from the prophets.” He added that lawmakers and ministers, from both the coalition and the opposition, should be present at such events, and said there is no contradiction between serving in government and attending ceremonies.
Minister Shikli also responded to the criticism, calling it “an ugly, disgusting lie” published during Shabbat, when no one could answer it. He said that after someone asked who could go, he replied, “I can,” but in the end the family requested that no government representative attend. Shikli said the result was “a whirlpool of hatred and division” and described the episode as “an ugly event of the highest order.”
