President Shimon Peres spoke at the Yom Hashoah Holocaust and Heroes Remembrance Day ceremony at in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening. "We came today to say Kaddish in memory of our beloved ones who were killed in the Holocaust," he stated. "We came to say and to swear "never again." We came to say that we are a peaceful people who can defend itself. We can and we will. We have built and we shall build. We will always remember our 6 million brothers who perished in the Holocaust," President Peres declared.   

  

He concluded his speech by stating, "In one week we will raise the flags of Israel's Independence which rose for the first time 64 years ago. Today, it is clear that the reality we have built is the vision we once dreamed. We will proudly wave the flags of the future of Israel, as an independent, moral, creative and contributing state. Let us wave the flags of peace, security and brotherhood."