Not only Minister Ben GvirAn unusual and embarrassing incident occurred last night (Tuesday), during the torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl, after it became clear that despite their senior status, the organizers of the ceremony did not reserve seating in the guarded and secure "Squad A" complex for Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Mossad head David Barnea. .
At the beginning of the ceremony, an argument developed over the two's seating location, after it became clear that they had been assigned a place within the general audience.
Placing the Chief of Staff and the head of the Mossad in the heart of the audience not only aroused a sense of violation of their dignity, but also strong resentment from their security officials, who claimed that this was a security lapse that did not allow for proper protection of the individuals.
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According to a report by Lilach Shoval in Israel Hayom, Chief of Staff Zamir even considered leaving the ceremony as a step of protest against the disrespect shown to the senior military echelon. Ultimately, after insistence from the military and security personnel, a partial solution was found: The Air Force Commander, Major General Tomer Bar, and the Secretary of the Supreme Command were seated next to the Chief of Staff. On the other hand, Mossad Director David Barnea was left sitting among ordinary civilians throughout the entire ceremony.
This is an unusual situation at a state ceremony, where the protocol and seating arrangements are carefully determined in advance. The presence of senior defense officials at the ceremony is considered an integral part of national symbolism, and their exclusion from the A-team compound raised many questions among those present.
The IDF spokesman did not respond to the news.
