Na de Holocaustherdenking vorige week (30 april), was gisteren 8 mei de herdenking van de gevallen soldaten in Israels oorlogen en de terreurslachtoffers, en morgen wordt vervolgens de onafhankelijksdag gevierd conform de Hebreewse kalender. Vandaag zijn er ceremonies bij de graven van de vele gesneuvelde soldaten.
Een vriend van ons in Tel Aviv krijgt nog elk jaar van het leger een attentie vanwege zijn zoon die in Libanon sneuvelde, en andere kennissen lopen mee in een jaarlijkse wandeltocht ter herdenking van een terreurslachtoffer in Afula tijdens de Tweede Intifada. Zo heeft bijna elke familie in Israel wel doden te betreuren en te herdenken.
Wouter
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Peres at official Memorial Day service: Israel is as strong as ever
Speaking at the official Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the president says that Israel hasn't had the possibility to lose 'even one war.'
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/peres-at-official-memorial-day-service-israel-is-as-strong-as-ever-1.360553
By Haaretz Service
Speaking at a special Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Sunday, President Shimon Peres lamented Israel's history of war, saying today "Israel is as strong as ever."
"We didn't seek war. It was imposed upon us. But when we were attacked, we didn't have the possibility to loose even one war. And when we won, we returned to seek peace," the president said.
Israel's Memorial Day began at 8 P.M. on Sunday with a minute-long siren where people stood in silence.
The number of fallen soldiers stands at 22,867 with 183 more since last Memorial Day. Also commemorated are 2,443 civilian victims of terror, to which 13 names were added over the past year.
Peres also warned those "looking for war" to "not make the same mistake again."
"Do not overlook our hidden abilities," Peres said.
He made a special mention of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, which has been successful in shooting down several missiles and grad rockets fired from Gaza. "We were the first in the world" with the Iron Dome system, the President said.
Peres also spoke about kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, saying "we will not rest and will not be silent until we see Gilad Shalit here, with us, healthy and whole."
The Defense Ministry will hold 44 ceremonies on Monday in military cemeteries and at the graves of soldiers throughout the country, with approximately 1.5 million people expected to attend. A memorial candle will be placed on each grave of a soldier, as well as flowers and a small Israeli flag.
"We didn't seek war. It was imposed upon us. But when we were attacked, we didn't have the possibility to loose even one war. And when we won, we returned to seek peace," the president said.
Israel's Memorial Day began at 8 P.M. on Sunday with a minute-long siren where people stood in silence.
The number of fallen soldiers stands at 22,867 with 183 more since last Memorial Day. Also commemorated are 2,443 civilian victims of terror, to which 13 names were added over the past year.
Peres also warned those "looking for war" to "not make the same mistake again."
"Do not overlook our hidden abilities," Peres said.
He made a special mention of Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, which has been successful in shooting down several missiles and grad rockets fired from Gaza. "We were the first in the world" with the Iron Dome system, the President said.
Peres also spoke about kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, saying "we will not rest and will not be silent until we see Gilad Shalit here, with us, healthy and whole."
The Defense Ministry will hold 44 ceremonies on Monday in military cemeteries and at the graves of soldiers throughout the country, with approximately 1.5 million people expected to attend. A memorial candle will be placed on each grave of a soldier, as well as flowers and a small Israeli flag.
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