October 7 anniversary sparks political and commemorative divides in Israel

Three years after the massacre, separate state ceremonies expose a leadership crisis and a fractured public memory.

October 7 anniversary sparks political and commemorative divides in Israel — Three years after October 7, the Israeli public sphere is marked by a deep fracture over how to remember the dead and who has the authority to shape that memory. Shari Makover-Belikov, writing in Maariv, sharply criticizes the holding of two separate state ceremonies—military and civilian—for the fallen of October 7 that are taking place today, calling them an expression of deep social division. She argues that "a leadership that is unable to take responsibility for the failure loses the legitimate right to shape the narrative of mourning for its victims," a direct challenge to the government's role in national commemoration.[^1] The struggle over the memorial circle at the Nova site, which she says tried to impose a rigid religious structure on a free space, exemplifies the split. This public argument over the ceremonies is not merely symbolic; it reflects a broader political contest over accountability and the meaning of the disaster itself. The question of responsibility also permeates analyses of recent security incidents. Ben Caspit, in a separate Maariv column, describes the near-crash of a Flydubai passenger plane over Tel Aviv—averted by an Indian pilot and Israeli citizens—as the "most horrifying fiasco." He claims the disaster should have been prevented by the Mossad, Shin Bet, and Ministry of Transportation, but that all are busy evading responsibility.[^2] Nahum Barnea, writing in Ynet, similarly argues that the investigations into the attempted attack on the Flydubai flight will not be genuine, neither in the Emirates nor in Israel.[^3] These critiques converge on a theme: three years after the massacre, the state's protective and investigative apparatuses are seen as failing, and citizens are left to save themselves. The sentiment is echoed by Sever Plocker, who asks what the future holds for the Gaza Envelope and the Gaza Strip, noting that 60% of the Strip's territory is under Israeli control and that 70% of Israelis fear another mass attack.[^4] Meanwhile, political actors are leveraging the anniversary for electoral gain. Global flashpoints: From Brazil's early vote