A special event saluting the Palmach in honor of its 75th anniversary was held this week at the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, with the participation of thousands of former Palmach members and their families.
The Palmach members were known as the “fighting brigades” of the Haganah that fought several important and fierce battles as Jews fought to establish the State of Israel during the 1940s.
Arutz Sheva was at this week’s festive event, which was attended by President Reuven Rivlin, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, opposition leader MK Yitzhak Herzog, former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
Rivlin referred to the importance of the Palmach and to its enormous contribution to the building of the state of Israel, saying, "It's hard to think of another group besides the Palmach from which so many public servants came out - prime ministers, five chiefs of staff, heads of commands and corps commanders, heads of the Shin Bet, Mossad and others.”
Several former members of the Palmach spoke to Arutz Sheva at the event, including Shayke Gavish, who said that, 75 years later, the spirit of the group “lives and it is strong. It is everywhere.”
Asked what message the tribute sends to the general public, Gavish said, "That there needs to be a goal, and not a personal one, but a public one. And you should try to give and not just take. This is a generation that gave. And if the current generation gives, we will have an even better country.”