Israeli Memorial Day begins on Monday night and continues on Tuesday. The country’s Independence Day begins right afterwards on Tuesday night, and continues on Wednesday.
Memorial Day commemorates the 24,293 civilians and soldiers who lost their lives in the fight for the Israel's independence since the year 1860. Joining the list in the past year were 13 Israelis who died in Operation Cast Lead and 13-year old Shlomo Nativ, who was murdered by an Arab terrorist in Bay Ayin just two weeks ago.
Speaking at an event on Monday afternoon at Jerusalem's Ammunition Hill to launch Memorial Day observances, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said, "The unity that we demonstrate on this day is natural and clear. But I want to say, specifically on this day of unity, that unity of the people is needed every day of the year. It helped us in the big troubles and difficulties of the past and will help us against the big challenges we face tomorrow. Our existence as a people and a state depends on our unity."
The prime minister called on people to remember not only the dead, but also the wounded and the missing. He said Israel will spare no effort to locate the missing and bring home abducted soldier Gilad Shalit.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin told those in attendance that the State of Israel asks to join their daily contact with their loved ones for just a moment, to spend time with them in the shadow of their private, intimate memory and to shed tears with them. Rivlin said that's the least that can be done and called for deep introspection, asking the question are we doing all we can to be worthy of the freedom which has been paid for and is being paid for daily by the fallen.
A siren will sound at 8:00 p.m. Monday night throughout the country, as Israelis stand for two minutes of silence. Immediately afterwards, the state ceremony begins at the Western Wall. President Shimon Peres, the prime minister and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi will be in attendance.
On Tuesday, Memorial Day continues and bereaved families traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones. A second siren sounds at 11:00 a.m.
The organization for IDF widows and orphans said on Monday that over 8,000 widows and orphans of slain IDF soldiers currently live in Israel. The oldest widow is 96, while the youngest is 18. In addition, 27 women became widows over the past year because their husbands were killed in IDF operations.