Workers and members of the public who were in the National Insurance Institute (NII) branch in Be’er Sheva on Wednesday morning during the traditional siren blast in honor of Israel’s fallen soldiers expressed anger after a group of Bedouins failed to respect the siren.  Instead of standing at attention or at least remaining silent, the Bedouins talked, ate, and wandered around the room in a deliberate attempt to provoke anger, witnesses said.

Office manager Itzik Kikus explained that approximately 10 men had ignored workers’ requests to respect the siren.  He recommended that NII offices be closed on Memorial Day in the future in order to prevent similar occurrences.

Talal Al-Karinawi, mayor of the Bedouin city of Rahat, expressed dismay at the men’s behavior.  “It’s a shame that hooligans tarnish the name of the Bedouin community, most of which honors Memorial Day and stands during the siren,” he said. Whoever deliberately disturbs others during the siren is a “parasite,” Al-Karinawi said.