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Israeli leaders warned the army was prepared to meet all threats facing it, as they paid tribute to fallen troops and civilians killed in militant attacks at Memorial Day ceremonies yesterday. |
“Since our inception as a people, we had to fight for our freedom and our existence,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at an afternoon ceremony.
“Today, too, there are those who threaten to annihilate us—they haven’t succeeded in the past, they won’t ever succeed,” he said in an apparent reference to Iran.
Israel believes Iran, which has issued numerous bellicose statements against the Jewish state, is working to achieve military nuclear capabilities.
Most recently last month Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country would “annihilate” the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa if it comes under attack by the Jewish state.
“If we have no choice, we will grasp our swords and go to battle,” Netanyahu said. “Our hand is extended in peace to all nations and states, far and near, but over the centuries we learned that only a strong defence force will ensure that we are not harmed.”
Speaking at a later memorial service at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, President Shimon Peres said that “Israel’s existence is no longer in question. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is ready for any scenario, against any enemy.”
“Even if the price of peace will be heavy—we will always be able to bear it.”
Speaking after Peres, army chief Benny Gantz said that “our sword is sharper than ever. Its lethal blade reaches every range. Whoever needs to know, knows—there is no place or target that the IDF’s long arm can’t reach.”
“If it seems that the enemy is no longer at our gate—don’t let that quiet mislead you,” he said, because “a storm of developing threats and dangers is raging below the surface.”
Minute-long sirens sounded nationwide at 8pm, marking the beginning of Memorial Day.
Today, further sirens will sound nationwide for two minutes at 11am, commencing ceremonies at dozens of cemeteries and military memorial sites across Israel.
