A two-minute memorial siren sounded across Israel moments ago
By Bernie,
A two-minute memorial siren sounded across Israel moments ago, opening the main observances of Yom HaZikaron for the country's fallen soldiers and victims of hostilities. The state ceremony is now underway at the Memorial Hall on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, with President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, and heads of the defense establishment in attendance.
Israel is this year commemorating 25,648 fallen soldiers, a figure expanded in recent days by losses in ongoing operations. The day's events opened last night with a one-minute siren and a candle-lighting ceremony at the Western Wall, attended by Herzog and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. A state ceremony for those killed in hostilities will be held on Mount Herzl at 1:00 p.m., followed by a ceremony in Acre at 4:00 p.m. for fallen fighters of the pre-state underground. The torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl at 7:45 p.m. will close Memorial Day and open the country's 78th Independence Day.
Topics: Missile Defense & Alerts, IDF, Israeli Politics
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