Eisenkot: IDF soldiers must know the nation of Israel supports them
At candle-lighting ceremony, President Rivlin laments fact more names have been added to Israel's fallen: 'I prayed that maybe this year we will stand here, finally, without new pain,' he says.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot stressed on Tuesday evening that the military's soldiers and commanders "must know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the entire nation supports them and stands behind them, even when there are disagreements."
Speaking at a Memorial Day candle-lighting ceremony at the Western Wall, Eisenkot explained that "the public's trust in the IDF is vital to realizing our objectives: Defending the state, ensuring its existence and, if necessary - achieving victory in war."
The ceremony began when the Israeli flag was lowered to half staff and a one-minute long siren pierced the night sky.
Eisenkot spoke of the unity that grief and loss bring to the people of Israel. "Beyond the silence blanketing the State of Israel this evening, we once again learn how connected we are to one another, united in shared destiny and fate. This unity is the basis for the Israel Defense Force, and it is what makes it the army of the people, the army of the state," he said.
However, he stressed, "unity does not necessarily mean agreeing on everything. We must not allow these disagreements hurt our shared goal," he said.
In the wake of the ongoing wave of terrorism that has been plaguing Israel for over six months, the IDF chief asserted that "if we stand with one another, there is no enemy we cannot defeat."
"Tomorrow, when we visit the graves of the fallen, the nation's unity will be revealed once more - not from bereavement, but from the hope we all share: To have no more new names added to the monument; a hope for a future of security, prosperity and growth," he added.
"Tomorrow, when we visit the graves of the fallen, the nation's unity will be revealed once more - not from bereavement, but from the hope we all share: To have no more new names added to the monument; a hope for a future of security, prosperity and growth."
"Bereavement," he remarked, "comes upon us all the exact same horrifying way - the same pain, the same longing, the same shared fate."
"Last year, as I stood before you, beloved families, for a moment, I sought to dream. I prayed that maybe, from that Memorial Day to this one, I won't have to visit any more homes of families whose world just fell apart. I prayed that maybe this year we will stand here, finally, without new pain," he said.
"But this year, too, we were hit with the harsh reality. This year, again, I've gotten to know boys and girls who were talented, funny, kind hearted, full of love and potential. And this year, again, I've gotten to know them too late - when they were already gone."
"None of them planned to die," he said. "None of us brings a child into the world thinking one day we will have to bury them in the ground and stand over their open grave and say Kaddish."
"For over 68 years, we've been fighting the same war - the war for our independence. This is a continuous campaign that changes its appearance and shape. This is a painful campaign that adds scars to the flesh and spirit of this ancient and strong nation," Rivlin said.
"The stones behind me, the stones of the wall of tears and hope, are evidence to the fact that we are not a nation of war. We are a peace-seeking nation, a nation that loves life and hates death," he continued.
"But we understand the bitter and terrible truth - there is a heavy price you had to pay, demanded of a nation determined to defend the life of its citizens and its independence. No one should dare test our resolve, because we will successfully face every challenge," Rivlin went on to say.
He thanked the families for their sacrifice, saying "You, who did not have enough time to love - thanks to you, we can love. You who were not able to see your children grow - thanks to you, our streets are filled with life, little boys and girls playing. You who couldn't realize your dreams - thanks to you, we can dream."
