Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided to scrap an initiative for an unprecedented speech at the torchlighting ceremony on the eve of Israel's 70th Indepdendence Day.
Part of the initiative included the invitation of world leaders to the event. A security discussion revealed that if heads of state came to the event, security would make it difficult for thousands of visitors to visit Mount Herzl on Memorial Day. As an alternative to Netanyahu's participation in the torch ceremony, he is expected to hold a reception for the world leaders at about the same time.