Sirens sounded in Israel to commemorate those who fought and died for the founding of the state, which officially came into being 75 years ago. The anniversary is marked against deep running social divisions.
Ednews informs via DW that Israel held Memorial Day ceremonies on Tuesday, with sirens heard across the country and crowds standing still to honor fallen soldiers.
Memorial Day precedes Israel's Independence Day, which will start on Tuesday evening. This year, Israel is marking 75 years since its declaration of independence in 1948.
Immediately after Israel's foundation, it was attacked by Egyptian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian forces. During the Arab-Israeli war, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes. The Palestinians refer to this period as the "Nakba" — the catastrophe.