No fireworks for Israeli Independence Day over military veterans’ PTSD concerns

Israelis watch a fireworks display in Tel Aviv in 2018 (Oded Balilty/AP)

Israel’s raucous Independence Day celebrations will be a little quieter this year.

Although fireworks are typically a mainstay at parties across the country, this year many of the glittering yet noisy displays have been cancelled over concerns from some military veterans who say the cracking and banging dredges up the horrors of battle, especially for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).