Ahead of the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism, which will be marked next Wednesday, the National Insurance Institute said on Friday that the number of civilians killed in terrorist attacks since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 stands at 3,134. This figure also includes 122 foreign nationals killed in terrorist attacks in Israel and 100 Israelis who died abroad.
In the past year, from the last Independence Day and until today, 12 Israelis have been murdered, with the last one being Adiel Kolman, who was stabbed to death in Jerusalem on his way to the Western Wall last month.
The terrorist attacks have left 3,175 orphans, including 114 who lost both their parents, 822 widows, and 926 bereaved parents who live among us today.
National Insurance Institute Director-General Meir Spiegler said that the Institute views the treatment and rehabilitation of the victims of terrorist attacks and the families of the victims as an important national mission, and acts to perpetuate the victims. "The victims of the attacks and the families of the victims face daily physical and mental injuries, and we aim to provide them with the most appropriate support, and to help as best we can with the greatest sensitivity and availability."
The Director-General added that in 2017 the Victims of Hostilities Division of the National Insurance Institute paid 500 million shekels in allowances and benefits to thousands of victims of terrorist attacks and families of the victims.
The National Insurance Institute, as part of its responsibility for the treatment of victims of hostilities and the families of the victims, also deals with the commemoration of those who perished. The "La’ad" (Forever) website presents the stories of 4,146 victims who have died in hostilities since the early days of Zionism (in 1860) and until today. On the site, visitors can light a virtual Yizkor candle, write a personal dedication to those who perished and share them on social media.
This year marks the ninth year in which a joint public event will be held in the Knesset on the eve of Memorial Day recognizing the fallen soldiers and the victims of terrorism.
The event, entitled "Songs in Their Memory", will take place on Tuesday evening at 9:15 p.m. and will be attended by President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Labor and Social Affairs Minister Chaim Katz, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, the heads of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Mossad. The Deputy IDF Chief of Staff and the Director-General of the National Insurance Institute will attend as well. 800 people have been invited, including bereaved families, representatives of organizations that deal with the families of the fallen and other officials.
The official ceremony in memory of the fallen will take place on Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on Mount Herzl, in the presence of President Rivlin, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Speaker of the Knesset, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, the President of the Supreme Court, the IDF Chief of Staff and the Director-General of the National Insurance Institute.