Knesset Assembly (file)
Knesset Assembly (file)Knesset Channel

On Tuesday afternoon, the Knesset held a special discussion in commemoration the Second Lebanon War.

Many dignitaries, led by President Reuven Rivlin, attended the event along with soldiers who fought in the war and bereaved families. It seems that the only ones missing were the Knesset members themselves.

In an embarrassing gesture to the soldiers and families, most of the seats remained empty.

At the end of the discussion, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) rebuked the absent legislators. "I want to apologize to the bereaved families, both those in the stands and those who are watching us, for the fact that most of the Knesset members chose not to respect the event with their presence."

He added, "If we are talking about closing the rift between Israel's leadership and the public, then maybe this is a good start: before you become Prime Minister or Foreign Minister or Defense Minister, at least come and sit here in your chair."

Opposition head Yitzhak Herzog (Zionist Union) expressed his disgust on Twitter: "It's a shame that the Knesset Assembly was almost empty during the memorial ceremony for the Second Lebanon War. Statesmanship is not a suggestion but rather our duty as elected officials."