Israel remembers its fallen soldiers and terror victims

27 Apr 2020

The State of Israel began commemorating the Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism (Yom HaZikaron) on Monday evening, amid health restrictions aimed at curb the spread of coronavirus. As part of these precautions, the Israeli government announced last week that a nationwide lockdown would be imposed, thus limiting traditional visits to military cemeteries and other large commemoration ceremonies.   

At 8 PM, Israelis observed a one-minute moment of silence, as a siren rang out across the country in honor of Israel's fallen. The siren was followed by a small ceremony at the Western Wall, attended by President Reuven Rivlin and Chief of General Staff Aviv Kochavi. At 9 P.M., following the completion of the ceremony, the names of the fallen were screened on the wall of the Knesset. 

Israelis will observe a two-minute siren on Tuesday morning at 11 A.M., followed by the official state memorial ceremony, to be held at Mount Herzl. The ceremony will not be open to the public, although it will be broadcast on television. Immediately after the siren, jets will fly across the country in honor of the fallen. 

The names of the fallen will be read at Mount Herzl from 7:30 A.M. to 10 A.M, Tuesday morning. According to the Defense Ministry, 3,151 Israelis have fallen in terror attacks in Israel since 1948, with 65 names added this past year. 

The lockdown will extend to Israel’s Day of Independence (Yom Ha’atzmaut) which begins Tuesday evening at nightfall and concludes Wednesday night.