Chief-of-Staff Gabi Ashkenazi of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told those in attendance at a modest pre-Ninth of Av ceremony at the Titus Gate in Rome Monday, "Am Yisrael Chai-the people of Israel are alive!" The lieutenant-general noted it was Titus who led the destruction of the second Temple, one of the tragedies commemorated on this date of the Jewish calendar.
Ashkenazi added that the people were able to return to the land of Israel and declare independence despite all the suffering and tragedies that befell them since then, and it was the IDF's job to prevent "tragedies such as the one memorialized at this gate". He was scheduled to deliver another address at a meeting Monday evening with the Jewish community of Rome.