A special 50th anniversary memorial ceremony marking half a century since the liberation of Jerusalem was held in the Israeli capital Sunday evening.

The event, hosted by Dr. Joe Frager in association with Arutz Sheva, was live-streamed from the Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem, with the participation of the new US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, ministers, Knesset members, rabbis and public figures.

The distinguished guests saluted Jerusalem on the occasion of the anniversary of its liberation, in the live-broadcast video event.

Among those in attendance: Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, the chairman of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee MK Avi Dichter, Ministers Yariv Levin, Ofir Akunis, Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked, Deputy Minister Eli Ben Dahan, Deputy Minister Michael Oren, and MKs Sharren Haskel, Oded Forer, Oren Hazan, Bezalel Smotrich and Yehuda Glick.

Other personalities who took part were the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Leon, Rabbi Dr. Chaim Shine, United Hatzalah President Eli Beer, Rabbi Avi Berman, Executive Director of OU Israel, Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi,Rabbi Kalman Topp of Beth Jacob, and businessman Jess Dolgin.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, spoke on behalf of the city.

The evening included an emotional address by the Goldin family, the body of whose son Hadar has been held by Hamas since Operation Protective Edge. The family demanded that Knesset members and ministers apply weighty pressure on Hamas to bring about the release of their son.

Uzi Baruch, Executive Director of Arutz Sheva, opened the event this evening with a verse from Psalm 122: "'The built Yerushalayim is as a city united' - this is the Jerusalem engraved on the heart of every Jew. We are thrilled to connect Israel-supporters from all over the world to this special city."

"Tomorrow, US President Donald Trump, President of the United States, will land here, a president who stresses his personal love and connection with the Jewish people. We pray for a great change in the White House's attitude towards Israel, for a president who will understand the security and political challenges facing the Israeli government and bring about a new approach and an authentic path to a true and just peace."

The organizer of the event on the American Jewish side, Dr. Joseph Frager, an Israel activist who is a surgeon by profession, emphasized the importance of this evening as a precursor to Trump's arrival: "The State of Israel must stand up for itself and not be tempted by enticements that endanger the Jewish people who dwells in Zion."