Israel came to a halt for two minutes on Tuesday as the country continued remembering its fallen. The official state ceremony on Mount Herzl, where the national military cemetery is located, began shortly after the siren at 11 a.m., a day after the events kicked off at the Western Wall with speeches by President Isaac Herzog and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.
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This year, amid the political upheaval surrounding the contested judicial reforms, there were concerns that the events would also become marred in controversy. Protesters heckled cabinet ministers during the memorial events across the country, including in Beersheba when National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke. But on Mount Herzl, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke, no disturbances were noted.
Netanyahu said that on this day, "we must remember that we are all brothers," and reiterated his call for unity. He spoke at length about this fallen brother, Yoni Netanyahu, who was killed while leading the raid at Entebbe Airport in 1976 to rescue dozens of Israeli hostages held there by Palestinian and German terrorists.
Speaking to the bereaved families, he said, "I am part of the bereavement family; I know your sadness and sorrow; the pride and the loss. I know what it feels like to want to make the memory of our loved ones live on for sacrificing their lives for our nation and our country."
He recalled a story that he heard about one of the fallen: Major Bar Falah. Upon visiting a site in Poland where Jewish babies were burned en masse during the Holocaust, he vowed, "The Jewish people will not suffer like this ever again, not so long as the IDF is ready, not so long as I am here." Netanyahu noted that "Bar is no longer here, he was killed in a clash with terrorists, but his spirit lives on."
Netanyahu said that the initiative to commemorate Falah, called "My Hero Brother" celebrates patriotism and service to the country among young Israelis.
"More than ever, this year we must remember that we are brothers on the day we remember our national heroes: Jews, Druze, Muslims, Bedouin, Christians, Circassians. We are brothers in arms; brothers in blood."
Memorial events were set to draw to a close toward the evening when a symbolic transition to Independence Day will begin with the raising of the flag back to full-staff on Mount Herzl ahead of the Torch-Lighting Ceremony, with many dignitaries in attendance.
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