Scoop: Israeli ambassador skips vigil for hostages after his request to speak was denied
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Attendees leave the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C. after a vigil on Oct. 10, 2023 responding to the Hamas attack in Israel. Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Israeli ambassador to the U.S. decided not to participate in a vigil in Washington, DC on Tuesday for the six hostages murdered by Hamas after his request to speak at the event was denied, four sources with direct knowledge told Axios.
Why it matters: The unusual incident reflects the growing rift between the majority of the families of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza and the Netanyahu government.
- The Israeli embassy confirmed the ambassador and his deputy didn't attend the vigil but said they don't boycott events related to the families of the hostages.
- The majority of the hostage families accuse the Israeli government of not doing enough to get their loved ones home.
- Over the last week, the families of the hostages have called for mass nationwide protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he abandoned the hostages.
Driving the news: Six hostages held in Gaza, including U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were murdered by Hamas last week.
- The Hostage Families Forum Headquarters, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and several other Jewish organizations held a vigil on Tuesday at Adas Israel synagogue in Washington, DC for the six hostages.
- Family members of several of the hostages and the second gentleman Doug Emhoff spoke at the event.
Behind the scenes: Several days before the vigil, the Israeli embassy contacted the organizers and requested that Ambassador Mike Herzog speak at the event, the sources said.
- According to the sources, the organizers refused and said the families weren't interested in representatives of the Israeli government speaking at the vigil.
- The embassy then suggested that the deputy ambassador Eliav Benjamin speak at the event. The organizers replied that as far as the families are concerned, there is no difference between the ambassador and his deputy, the sources said.
- The sources said the organizers emphasized to the embassy that the ambassador and his deputy are invited to the event and that their presence would even be recognized by the moderator.
The Israeli embassy was angry and the deputy ambassador informed the organizers that, "under these conditions," he and the ambassador were not going to participate and effectively boycotted the vigil, the sources said.
- Several other representatives of the Israeli embassy did attend the event.
What they're saying: "The Israeli embassy, from the ambassador down, deals intensively with the issue of the hostages, including hosting, coordinating meetings and providing professional and personal assistance," a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy said.
- "Since the beginning of the war until today, the embassy has taken care of hundreds of family members and their companions in official and unofficial visits," she continued.
- "The ambassador and his staff are in close contact with the families and the hostage families forum and have never boycotted events related to the families of the hostages," the spokesperson said.
