Israel's leaders gather to honor the fallen
Fallen soldiers honored in state memorial on Mount Herzl; PM: 'I'm devastated every time I'm informed of a soldier who's been killed.'
The day's events began with a two-minute siren in honor of the fallen at 11am,which was followed by a state memorial ceremony for Israel's fallen soldiers on Mount Herzl.
Present at the official state ceremony were President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein, Supreme Court President Miriam Naor IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. Members of bereaved families were also in attendance.
In his speech, Netanyahu reminded those present that he was a bereaved brother himself and addressed the others who had suffered losses. "We, the bereaved families, don't need a day to remember the dear ones that we lost," he stated. "My brothers and sisters, the pain of loss is like a weight attached to our feet in our wandering journey through the wilderness of grief."
The prime minister further spoke of national and internal unity, saying "Internal unity is the root of our existence. This is a day of large internal reconciliation. Internal reconciliation that comes from our shared destiny. It is only fitting that these concepts should guide us every day throughout the year."
Speaking of the two slain Israeli soldiers still held in captivity, Netanyahu added, "We will continue acting to bring home IDF soldiers, including our dear Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul."
Speaking on his decade of experience as prime minister, he said , "During my years as prime minister, every time that I'm notified of a soldier who died, I'm devastated."
At the same time as the state ceremony on Mount Herzl, memorial services were held at military cemeteries and plots throughout the country. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon attended the ceremony at the Kiryat Shaul cemetery in Tel Aviv along with Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Yair Golan. The latter, currently the focus of criticism
following his comments on Holocaust Remembrance day, did not speak.
Ya'alon spoke of Israel's military strength and its preparedness to hold firm. Speaking of the recent escalation with Hamas, the defense minister said, "We will not compromise and we will not recoil from threats like those or others. We will take an iron fist against those who seek our doom, and we will strike against them at any time, in any place. We will do so with vigor and determination, with wisdom and with responsibility."
Ya'alon also called for maintaining a level head, saying, "Even in difficult moments, when our blood is boiling and our anger is great, woe be to us if we lose our path and our values."
Speaking to values, Ya'alon added, "We must fully uproot the unacceptable phenomena of racism and violence, physical and verbal attacks on women, and excluding the other simply because they're different. Fight for ensuring equal rights and opportunities without regard to religion, face, sex or sexual orientation."
Following the state ceremony, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh laid a wreath and spoke at the ceremony for Israel Police's fallen officers in the military plot on Mount Herzl.
