A video showing several young ultra-Orthodox Jews performing inappropriate dances near David Ben-Gurion’s grave in the Ben-Gurion National Park at Sde Boker has sparked widespread outrage.
The incident, which was shared on social media, is now under police investigation with full cooperation from the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute.
"We condemn with the utmost force and disgust the derogatory video posted on social media that desecrates the grave of the founder of the state and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. This is a grave act that insults his memory and the core values of the State of Israel," the institute said in a statement.
"Whether the video is authentic or fake, it attempts to tarnish David Ben-Gurion's memory," the institute's statement added. “Ben-Gurion’s legacy is more important today than ever — it is the eternal answer.”
Not the first desecration of the gravesite
This is not the first time Ben-Gurion's grave has been desecrated or used as a backdrop for disturbing social media content.
In previous incidents, graduates of Midreshet Sde Boker reported a problematic tradition in which sexual acts and games were performed near the tomb during graduation celebrations.
The incidents drew strong condemnation from the school officials and led to ongoing investigations.
Ben-Gurion’s grave has also been the target of past vandalism. In 1989, extremists spray-painted a swastika on the site, and in 2005, the word “Hitler” was scrawled on it.