Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., May 11, 2009 Iyyar 17, 5769 | | Israel Time: 15:44 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Comments:  14
Last update - 08:49 28/04/2009
Israel honors fallen IDF soldiers, terror victims
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Israel News, Shalit 

Israelis fell silent on Monday evening as sirens wailed across the country to mark Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. A two-minute siren will be sounded again on Tuesday morning.

At the evening's main ceremony, President Shimon Peres addressed Israel's bereaved families after lighting a memorial flame at the Western Wall plaza.

"A thousand words will not quell the pain shown in your eyes, this is a pain that has accompanied you for years," the president said.
Advertisement

"This year as well, we lost the best of our boys and girls, some of whom during Operation Cast Lead," he added, referring to Israel's recent offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

The widow of the last Israeli soldier to die in combat lit a memorial flame at the ceremony.

The soldier, Capt. Yehonatan Netanel, was killed Jan. 6 during the campaign when Israeli forces mistakenly opened fire on his unit. Netanel, 27, left his widow, Tziona, and a 5-month-old daughter, Ma'ayan.

In his address, Peres went on to say that Israel's very existence was still threatened, in an apparent reference to Iran, whose president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the country to be wiped off the map.

"From near and far people are trying to wipe us out - and see this wonder: We are not frightened, not fleeing from battle," he said.

"We don't want war, but if it is forced upon us, I advise both our friends and enemies, to be on the right side, on our side, on the side that has always prevailed and will prevail."

IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi later told the tearful gathering of families and dignitaries at the Western Wall that Israel must face extremists from the Palestinian territories and from Iran.

"The declarations of Iran's president a few days ago still resonate and remind us well that in the 61st year of Israel's independence, the threats against it haven't stopped or slowed," Lt. Gen. Ashkenazi said. "Israel considers Iran a main enemy because of Ahmadinejad's threats, Iran's nuclear program and its development of long-range missiles."

He was referring to Ahmadinejad's tirade Israel last week at a United Nations conference in Geneva.

"Even after dozens of years of struggle, we have still not lost our hope to live by your side in peace and mutual respect; but I don't recommend that anyone tests the strength and determination of the IDF," Ashkenazi warned.

"Whoever wants to harm the citizens of the state will find that a determined army that responds with a harsh strike."

After Ashkenazi and Peres' speeches, an IDF cantor recited Kaddish, the Jewish prayer of mourning.

At Memorial Day service, Netanyahu vows to 'spare no effort' for Shalit

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday to spare no effort to secure the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, speaking at the day's opening service.

"We'll spare no effort to bring back the abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit," said Netanyahu at Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill, the site of a hard-fought battle in the 1967 Six Day War.

Noam Shalit, kidnapped soldier's father, left Israel on Monday for the United States, where he will meet with Jewish community leaders and Obama administration officials to garner support for his son's release.

In his speech, Netanyahu praised the achievements of the army and its soldiers.

"We are a nation that desires life," he said, "and as such and we will continue to strengthen our shield. The IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, Border Police and all the arms of the security forces guarantee [our] security and the conditions for peace."

The prime minister also spoke of his own personal loss, referring to the death of his brother Jonathan in the 1976 IDF raid on Entebbe.

"The price we have paid and are still paying is unbearable, I know," he said. "My family has also been struck by bereavement; your sorrow is my sorrow. I feel the pain deep in my heart and carry with me the memory, the yearning and the burden of the loss."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, meanwhile, noted in a statement that the Middle East is not North America or Europe. "It is an environment without charity to the weak, and there are no second chances to those who don't know how to protect themselves," he said.

According to the Defense Ministry, 133 soldiers and civilians died during the past year either in the course of military service or as civilian casualties of hostile activity.

The total number of those who have been remembered by this Memorial Day is 22,570. The dead who are counted date from 1860, when Jews first settled outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The IDF has shut down checkpoints on key West Bank roads leading into
Israel, to avoid possible attacks by Palestinian militants in crowded
city centers as Israelis plan to celebrate 61 years since their state
was founded Tuesday evening.

Related articles:
  • Memorial Day / 24,293 fallen soldiers, terror victims since Israel was born
  • Noam Shalit to urge U.S.: Condition peace talks on Gilad's release
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    'No Jews allowed'
    A hotel in Austria refuses Jewish guests even though there are vacancies
    Israel's secret plan
    Clandestine government plan to help prevent the division of Jerusalem revealed
      1.   If Netanyahu is serious about sparing no effort 18:37  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/04/09
      2.   Spare no effort 18:42  |  Uetliberg 27/04/09
      3.   "Spare no effort"? Meaningless jargon 18:58  |  Natallie Durson 27/04/09
      4.   God let Shaleet free 19:26  |  Zaina Shehab 27/04/09
      5.   netanyahu should free all Hamas prisoners... 19:46  |  Rob 27/04/09
      6.   #5 - Come off it. 20:30  |  Adam 27/04/09
      7.   Adam #6, come off it! 07:13  |  yonatan 28/04/09
      8.   133 dead dring this year? 10:48  |  Kalman 28/04/09
      9.   Israel is always playing the righteous victim role.. 11:34  |  Dutch 28/04/09
      10.   Using dead people for political gain is awful 11:50  |  Tcherkessi 28/04/09
      11.   DUTCH 15:37  |  OZ 28/04/09
      12.   .....few years full of sorrow. Peace to Israel. 18:31  |  Simon 28/04/09
      13.   Chris, You couldn`t believe but it is true 13:25  |  Aby 29/04/09
      14.   Natalie durson 14:52  |  Daniela 29/04/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    The Pope in the Holy Land
    Durban II conference
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Air strike in Sudan


    More Headlines
    13:27 Pope in Israel: We must fight anti-Semitism wherever it is found
    12:50 The pope's visit to Israel is an impossible balancing act
    14:56 Netanyahu meets Mubarak in Egypt for run-up to U.S. visit
    15:38 Jewish delegates boycott EU interfaith meeting
    15:32 How would Israel look if its left finally died?
    15:40 Two IDF soldiers arrested for looting Palestinian in Gaza
    14:14 'Israel is quietly expelling young settler couples from West Bank'
    10:03 Study: Quality of Israeli sperm down 40% in past decade
    09:54 Anti-Israel activists urge Leonard Cohen to nix T.A. show
    13:52 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    10:01 'Obama peace plan: Muslim world must recognize Israel'
    07:37 Amira Hass / Israel knows that peace just doesn't pay
    13:11 Germany: Demjanjuk to arrive as early as Tuesday
    10:30 Obama is changing the rules of Mideast pressure
    09:42 Government, labor union said nearing deal on budget
    10:31 Did U.S. help Lebanon crack alleged Israeli spy rings?
    03:20 Poll: Arab world favors Obama, but still wary of U.S.
    07:46 '88% of prisoners in Palestinian jails being held without trial'
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved