By Marney Blom
Today is Yom HaZikaron, the day Israel honours the memory of its fallen soldiers and civilians – ones who have lost their lives through war and acts of terrorism.
“We remember with sadness the young lives cut short – each and every one of them an entire world,” said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz.
From the moment the modern State of Israel was born, it became a target of annihilation – an unwelcome member of the hostile neighbourhood of the Middle East. As a result, 23,085 Israeli soldiers, police officers and innocent civilians have been caught in the crossfire of war and terrorism, 102 more names than last year.
“We are here thanks to Israel’s fighters who joined the struggle for our existence, thanks to those who survived the wars and thanks to those who fell,” remarked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his weekly cabinet meeting. “We do not forget, even for a second, that we are here thanks to the fallen.”
In communities throughout Israel last night, an 8 p.m. national siren was immediately followed by memorial ceremonies in memory of fallen local residents. A second siren sounded across Israel at 11 a.m. this morning. To view the public observance of Yom HaZikaron click LINK.
Marney Blom is news director for the Acts News Network.
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