Jerusalem: In the Israeli city of Ra’anana, north of Tel Aviv, far-right activists stormed a church on Tuesday night, disrupting a joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day ceremony, according to local reports.
The incident occurred during the annual event organised by Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle-Families Forum, which has been held for the past 20 years to bring together bereaved families from both sides.
The activists broke into the synagogue while the ceremony was being screened, throwing stones and setting off fireworks. Those attending were forced to barricade themselves inside the building for safety until Israeli police arrived and evacuated them.
The ceremony, symbolising unity and shared grief, has long been a target of nationalist criticism, but this year’s attack marks a disturbing escalation. The event in Ra’anana became a flashpoint amid growing political divisions and tensions surrounding peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians.
