All of Israel joined together in honoring the memory of its 22,305 fallen soldiers and victims of terror on Monday. A two-minute long siren was sound throughout the country at 11 am and was followed by memorial ceremonies in 43 military cemeteries.
The main ceremony took place at the national military cemetery at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz in attendance.
The Prime Minister said during the ceremony, "On this special day, we are all one bereaved family. Each one of us remembers and sees in front of our eyes a close person among the fallen, because there is no one in Israel who has not tasted the price of war.
"Those who have gone cannot be returned, but they will always be in front of our eyes. We shall cherish the virtue of their sacrifice, we shall educate our children in their light, their courage will serve as a pledge of allegiance to value, love and maintain this dear and good country, our national home, the cradle of our homeland and our hope, which was bought with the blood of the fallen soldiers. We shall defend it courageously, and will be prepared to remove any threat and danger."
Olmert told those gathered, "not to despair and not give up on the belief that peace could be reached, peace with security, to seriously examine every diplomatic initiative, to utilize every chance to the fullest, to be prepared for extreme compromises and even painful compromises, as long as our vital and existential interests are maintained in order to realize our strong desire for peace."
A ceremony honoring victims of terror attacks will take place at 1 pm Monday at Mount Herzl. The Prime Minister will also attend that ceremony.
Israel will mark its 59th Independence Day immediately following the end of Memorial Day on Monday evening. Monday evening also marks 40 years of the unification of Jerusalem, which was achieved during The Six Day War in 1967.
Israelis across the country stopped everything and stood for a minute of silence at 8 pm on Sunday, when Memorial Day officially began. Immediately following the siren, ceremonies were held to commemorate the fallen soldiers and victims of terror. All flags in Israel were lowered to half-mast.
Acting President Dalia Itzik attended the national ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. She spoke to the grieving families in attendance, saying, "Tonight, Israel weeps."
She continued, "We have no words of comfort. But we embrace you, the families, with endless love." Itzik said that those who sacrificed themselves in defense of their country "would want us to be united."
Itzik spoke of the IDF as Israel's "rock" and the "wall that defends us" year after year. She also said that Israel has not ceased to struggle for its existence, but said the nation is not tired.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi also spoke at the Western Wall ceremony. He said, "We came to remember their [the fallen soldiers] stories. I leave you this evening with a feeling of pride.
"The IDF is a moral army; we are a strong and moral society. The last year has been difficult and painful for us all. Names were added to those that we have been lost; 233 families have joined the list of those who mourn.
"When will we finally arrive at a state of rest? My answer is that only with the IDF, a strong and intimidating force, can we achieve this," he said.
Ashkenazi continued, "I speak as a commander who led soldiers into battle, as a commander and as a fighter; I tell you that there is nothing more painful than war. We are a defensive army. But if a war is forced on us, we shall not back down. We will do all that we need to keep Israel's citizens safe in their homes and on our borders.
"The last war was thoroughly investigated, and we will learn from its lessons... and apply what we have learned. When the stories of each and every individual... young and old, on their mandatory service and while on reserve duty are shared, no one will be able to deny their heroism.
"We remember our fallen, on this day, and every day. The IDF is also part of the bereaved families," he said.
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert opened Memorial Day commemoration events at a service at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem.
"Our duty to the fallen and their families is to make every possible effort to traverse the long path which leads to preventing war and to peace," Olmert told those assembled.
The IDF is maintaining a total closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip through the end of Independence Day. Police forces will be concentrated in areas such as military cemeteries.
On Independence Day, the police will work to protect entertainment centers, parks and other densely packed areas.
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