Israel’s Independence, Memorial Days plagued by divisions

By LAURIE KELLMAN and ISABEL DEBRE
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — The contradictions that make up Israel were on full display as the country mourned its fallen soldiers and began celebrating its 75th Independence Day. The jarring transition Tuesday from Israel’s Memorial Day to its landmark anniversary ceremony came as the country faces one of the gravest crises in its history. The events reflected the troubles of a nation preoccupied not only with its external enemies but with its internal conflicts. A plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government to overhaul the judiciary has stoked widespread discontent and spurred weeks of protests that have brought cities to a standstill. Critics fear the changes would weaken the Supreme Court and erode the country’s democratic character.