Itongadol.- As Israel marks Memorial Day, PM says Israel must not forget \’sons and daughters\’ who gave their lives; At 8 P.M. a one-minute siren sounded in memory of the 23,169 fallen.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that the State of Israel must not forget it is here thanks to the sacrifice of the men and women who gave their lives in its defense.
Speaking at ceremony at Yad Lebanim in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that the fallen are "the heroes of the nation."
"They come from every part of the people, and from every part of Israeli society, and the simplest, most essential truth is this: We would not be here if not for their sacrifice, we would not be here if not for their readiness to give their lives so that we will be here," he said.
"During the years of our exile," added Netanyahu, "we were simply slaughtered, and the great difference since the revival of Israel is our ability to station our sons and daughters to defend us, and even if this carries a pain like none other."
The Jerusalem ceremony, also attended by the speaker of the Knesset and the Sephardi and Ashkenazi chief rabbis, marked the beginning of Memorial Day ceremonies around the country.
At 8 P.M. a one-minute siren sounded throughout Israel. A torch was lit at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, in the presence of President Shimon Peres and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.