Israel’s culture minister, Miki Zohar, has been condemned by the families of the victims of the October 7 attacks after saying that labelling the tragedy a “massacre” reflects a “victim mentality”.
Zohar drew the backlash while commenting on the government’s decision to remove the term from a bill, currently being examined by the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee, which will establish a national day of remembrance for those killed in the attacks.
Yoel Elbaz, a representative of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), asked that the word be removed from the title of the legislation, which now refers simply to the “events" of the day, though the word remains in the text of the law.
Elbaz said that the change was requested as October 7 “was not only a massacre — there was also heroism”.
"I don’t know to what degree people will remember the name of the law — they will rather remember the activities carried out by the authorities, which will also preserve the memory of the massacre,” he went on.
However, asked about the decision in an interview with the Kan public broadcaster, Zohar said: “The State of Israel is a strong state. The days when it was possible to massacre the State of Israel are no longer.
"One can kill in the State of Israel, unfortunately; one can hurt Israeli citizens, one can murder Israeli citizens, very unfortunately, and, God willing, we’ll do everything to prevent such things from happening. But it is no longer possible to massacre the nation of Israel. I’m not so into the victim mentality.”
His comments were condemned by Hila Abir, whose sister Lotan was murdered during the Nova festival, who told Channel 12: “Nothing surprises me anymore, not even the words of Minister Zohar this morning.”
"What’s the difference between him and Holocaust deniers?” she asked. “There was a massacre. We can’t evade that.”
Addressing the bill itself, Abir continued: “This law will pass over my dead body.
"Where is the death of our brothers and children? It was all erased!”
Likewise, the October Council, which represents the relatives of those killed in the attacks, claimed that change was “the Prime Minister’s Office’s latest attempt to cover up the October 7 massacre”.
It went on: “We are here to state clearly: there was a massacre. We paid the highest possible price for it. We will ensure that everyone responsible is investigated by a state commission of inquiry and also pays the price.”
“No politician’s blood is redder than the blood of our children, our brothers, and our parents. Shame on you.”
Responding to the criticism, the PMO said: “Contrary to recent reports, the bill explicitly includes the word ‘massacre’.
"The Prime Minister’s Office is committed to a comprehensive and truthful commemoration of all aspects of the events, without distortion or omission, and is working to advance the bill in this spirit.”
To get more Israel news, click here to sign up for our free Israel Briefing newsletter.