Battle over legal reform clouds Israel’s Remembrance and Independence Days

Government and opposition heads’ joint call for a truce in public divisions over judicial reform was unavailing. Despite a government pledge to shun politics, some serving ministers and lawmakers have cancelled traditional appearances at the mourning events taking place on Memorial Day Tuesday in 52 IDF graveyards – in respect of protests by some of the bereaved families.

In the past year, 59 Israeli soldiers died in action; another 86 succumbed to former wounds – raising to 28,468 the total number of war dead in Israel’s 75 years’ history . Another 31 civilians were the victims of terrorism in the past year.

For Independence Day on Wednesday, the anti-government protest movement promises a mammoth demonstration. Meanwhile, the talks sponsored by the president on a compromise solution for the debate on judicial reform move forward.

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