Tens of thousands of Israeli citizens and bereaved families participated on Wednesday morning in Israel's central memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers, held in Jerusalem and attended by Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu).
Speaking at the ceremony, Liberman said, "Here, in this place, and in every military cemetery in Israel, there are no divisions or parties. Here, there are no tribes or camps - there is only one, single, camp: that of the Jewish people, who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Israel's independence, its security, and its future."
"Like them, we are not afraid of the dangers. They understood that there is no other way. We are obligated to do the same, in their memories and in their spirit. We must be one nation, and one camp, united against the challenges facing the State of Israel. We also have impressive achievements, that are miraculous and wondrous in the history of the Jewish nation. But we are still unable to lay down our weapons."
Speaking about Israel's current security situation, Liberman added, "Unfortunately, the threats to harm us and to destroy the State of Israel are incessant, even 70 years after the War of Independence. We therefore need a strong and determined IDF, and we must understand that we live in a very fragile and volatile reality. At any moment, we may need all of the skill and strength the IDF and its commanders have to offer."
"We are not looking for adventures, but when it comes to the security of Israel and its citizens, we will not make any compromises and we will not blink.
"My advice to our neighbors, both to the north and south is: Take this [warning] into account, and take it seriously."
