The state torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl was held Tuesday evening, on the eve of Israel's 78th Independence Day, under the theme "Strengths of Renewal."
As is customary, the event was attended by public figures and elected officials, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana.
The ceremony was hosted by singer-songwriter Rotem Cohen and actor and television personality Mali Levi. As previously reported, following a renewed security assessment after the ceasefire, it was decided that all state ceremonies would be held live rather than as pre-recorded broadcasts, for which preparations had already been made.
Netanyahu arrived at the ceremony accompanied by his wife, Sara, He wore a bulletproof vest under his coat out of concern that he could be targeted.
The ceremony opened with the recitation of the Yizkor memorial prayer by Shlomo Mor Yosef, chairman of the Public Council for Commemorating Soldiers. Mor Yosef's younger brother, Lt. Uri Mor Yosef, was killed in the 1973 Yom Kippur War while serving as an armored corps officer. In 1990, his father-in-law, Ze'ev Shiftan, was murdered in a terrorist attack in Egypt.
Various musical performances were featured during the ceremony. At the opening, singer Shira Zloof performed "V'tashiri Li Makom Lechabek Otach" ("And Leave Me a Place to Hug You") together with M., an undercover Border Police officer. Ben Tzur performed "Abba" ("Father") with Israel Defense Forces soldiers. Amir Benayoun and Lihi Toledano performed "Kshe'at Atzuva" ("When You're Sad") and "Al Hadvash Ve'al Ha'Oketz" ("On the Honey and on the Sting"). Noam Horev read several spoken-word pieces: "Masach Mefutzal" ("Split Screen"), "Ani Ma'amin B'Nissim" ("I Believe in Miracles") and "Hacholmim Achar Hashemesh" ("Those Who Dream After the Sun"). Amir Dadon performed "Yesh Bach Hakol" ("You Have Everything"). Yehoram Gaon performed "Eretz Tzvi" ("Land of the Deer") and "Lo Tenatzchu Oti" ("You Will Not Defeat Me").
'Israel is stronger than ever'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered remarks in a recorded greeting, saying: "Dear citizens of Israel, my brothers and sisters. On this Independence Day, we stand tall and tell the world: the people of Israel live. Israel is stronger than ever, and together with the US we are leading the war against the forces of evil in the world. Ensuring the eternity of Israel is our supreme mission."
