Yom HaAtzmaut shows go fireworks-free to shield veterans who have PTSD

DAY CELEBRATIONS across Israel will take place without fireworks for the first time to spare PTSD sufferers.

Tel Aviv municipality announced on Sunday it would not hold a Yom HaAtzmaut fireworks show.

The country’s main commemoration in Jerusalem will have a silent pyrotechnic performance instead.

The move has been made to remove the potential of loud bangs triggering former soldiers to suffer PTSD by reminding them of gunfire and bombing.

Israel’s Culture Minister Hili Tropper said: “They [former soldiers] have fought enough. They have paid a heavy price. This year we are reaching out to them.”

He said the move was “the practice of a society that has solidarity”.

Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, who made the decision to axe his city’s firework display, told the Jerusalem Post: “One of the things that influenced the decision were appeals from soldiers with PTSD asking to cancel the show, as well as consideration for the population of people with disabilities.

“I hope next year we will find an environmentally friendly and equally, if not more, impressive alternative.”

Ehud Amiton, a former soldier with PTSD who lobbied for the displays to end, told Israeli Army Radio: “The barrage of fireworks is the same as a burst of gunfire for us. We don’t oppose the celebrations, we oppose the noise.”

Many smaller cities, including Ramat Gan and Kiryat Ono have also called off their pyrotechnic displays, while Haifa’s show will be significantly reduced. The move was criticised by Yair Netanyahu, son of Benjamin Netanyahu, who tweeted: “There have been fireworks on Independence Day for 70 years and there was never any problem with it.”

We don’t oppose the celebrations, we oppose the noise