By Judy Lash Balint
JERUSALEM–In a country of 7 million people, there’s barely anyone not touched in some direct way by one of Israel’s wars or the terror attacks that have plagued Israeli citizens since before the founding of the State.
This year’s statistics indicate that 22,867 men and women have been killed defending the land since 1860, the year the first Jewish settlers left the secure walls of Jerusalem to build new Jewish neighborhoods.
Since the end of the 1948 War of Independence, 2,443 people have been killed in Israel in terror attacks – 13 in the past year.
Also in the past year, 183 members of the security forces – police, IDF, Border Police, Security Agency and other organizations – have been killed in service of the state.
Among the bereaved families is PM Bibi Netanyahu, whose brother Yoni was a commander in the successful Entebbe campaign of 1976.
Last night, the Netanyahu family paid a visit to Yoni’s grave at Mt Herzl to pay their respects in advance of Memorial Day (to avoid huge security problems on the day itself).
The official ceremonies marking the opening of Memorial Day take place at 8 p.m tonight at the Western Wall.
To witness the abrupt change in mood between Memorial Day and Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, tune in to the live feed of Tuesday morning’s ceremony at the President’s Residence that includes music, presentation of awards to outstanding soldiers and the official Air Force fly-by. Tuesday, 10 May 2011 at 09:30-11:00 Israel Time (+3 GMT).
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Balint is a freelance writer based in Jerusalem, whose stories are filed on her website, Jerusalem Diaries: In Tense Times. She may be contacted at judy.balint@sdjewishworld.com