Israel's Memorial Day, otherwise known as the Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror – or "Yom HaZikaron" – began on Monday evening, marked by a one-minute-long siren in which Israelis stood in silence followed by commemorative events across the country. President Isaac Herzog kicked off the official state events at the Western Wall, speaking before an IDF honor guard.
At the ceremony, Herzog echoed his comments from the past several weeks, in which he has called on Israelis to strike a compromise over the contested judicial reforms that have led to unprecedented protests and has even hosted talks between the two warring camps. "I would like to ask all Israelis that we mourn together and that we give voice to our collective sorry, and to have a Memorial Day that is clear of controversy." IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who penned an oped in recent days in which he called on Israelis to rise above the political fray in respect of the fallen, said, "Tomorrow, we will check the various disputes we have outside the cemeteries so that we let the families, the commanders, and the soldiers unite in their sacred oath to honor their fallen comrades."
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Another siren will sound on Tuesday for two minutes as the main ceremonies on Mount Herzl's military cemetery will begin for the fallen in Israel's wars and later for Israelis murdered in terrorist attacks. Events will continue before the transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day, with celebrations kicking off on Tuesday night at the torch–lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on citizens to put aside differences on Monday, especially as it relates to the debate over the government's judicial reform initiative, for one day, as the country finds common cause in mourning its heroes.
"[As] we fix our gaze on the military sections in the cemeteries, every headstone there tells the story of a life that was cut short. The unity of silent bereavement in the cemeteries cries out to us at this time. Our loved ones who fell, our loved ones who paid for our revival with their lives, did so for us – and we must stand together for them, united, in order to be worthy of their sacrifice," he said at the Yad Labanim memorial event just before the official state ceremony on Monday evening.
The names of Israel's fallen soldiers will be broadcast on Israeli television from 8:45 p.m. on Monday until the following day, and can also be found on the Izkor website.
On Tuesday at 11 a.m., the nation will again come to a standstill when a two-minute siren sounds throughout the country. It will be immediately followed by an air force flyover of the Memorial Hall at Mount Herzl. Another state ceremony will then take place there, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance.
The time of commemoration was accompanied by changes in the circulation of buses and trains]. In accordance with an assessment of the security situation in Israel, a general closure was imposed on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which will continue until the end of Independence Day on Wednesday evening.
Check out the full schedule of events over the next couple of days:
Monday – the day before Memorial Day
4:30 p.m. – Opening of Yom Hazikaron events at the "Yad Labanim" education center in Jerusalem, in the presence of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
8:00 p.m. – A one–minute siren will sound across the country, during which Israelis will stand in silence.
8:01 p.m. – Opening ceremony of Memorial Day at Jerusalem's Wailing Wall, in the presence of President Isaac Herzog, the Israeli army's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and bereaved families. The ceremony will include the lighting of a memorial candle, and the prayers "Yizkor" and "God full of mercy" will be recited in memory of Israel's martyrs.
9:15 p.m. – The national event "Songs in their memory" will be held in parliament under the sign: "Time has stood still." Video clips will be broadcast in memory of the deceased, including Major Bar Falah, a soldier who was killed seven months ago, as well as the Hillel brothers, who were killed in an attack near Hawara in the West Bank.
Tuesday
11:00 a.m. – A two–minute siren will sound across the country.
11:02 a.m. – Along with commemorative ceremonies across the country, the State Martyr Ceremony will be held at the Memorial Hall on Mount Herzl in the presence of Herzog and Netanyahu.
1:00 p.m. – The national commemoration ceremony for victims of terror will begin at the Mount Herzl complex.
7:45 p.m. – End of Memorial Day and the start of Independence Day festivities.
Parts of this article were reprinted with permission from JNS.org. This article was first published by i24NEWS
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