We must restore IDF's deterrence, says Barak
In state memorial ceremony for 155 soldiers and civilians killed in Second Lebanon War, defense minister says, 'The sword is in our hand and our eyes are open for peace.' Acting President Dalia Itzik criticizes Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for ignoring her call for national emergency government during war
A state memorial ceremony for the 155 people killed during the war, including 119 soldiers, was held at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. It was attended by bereaved families, opposition leader Bejamin Netanyahu, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, former Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and ministers.
"The sword is ready in our hand and our eyes are open and sober, looking to the horizon of peace," the defense minister said during the ceremony. "This is our generation's test, and this is its mission."
Barak stressed the unity between the war victims – civilians and soldiers: "The Second Lebanon War is the first war since the end of the Independence War in which the entire nation was an army, and the Home Front was a front.
"The Katyushas did not distinguish as they flew by between a soldier and a civilian, a Jew and an Arab, an infantry forces fighter, a worker at a train depot, a tank driver, and a driver of a private car innocently driving home."
119 soldiers and 36 civilians killed in last summer's war (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Acting President Dalia Itzik conveyed a criticizing message to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
"During the war I called on the prime minister to form a national emergency government, but he chose to ignore my call. A united leadership is more suitable in my opinion for times of emergency. It is not too late," she said.
According to Itzik, "The Second Lebanon War will be remembered as the war in which the State of Israel became sober. For this we paid a heavy, unbearable death toll. Israel launched the war because it had no choice. There were errors, there were mistakes, there were failures. Now we must roll up our sleeves and fix them."
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said that "the IDF was sent on this war by the Israeli government in order to defend Israel's citizens and restore calm to its northern border. The past year's incident did not fade the memory of the days of war, in which the IDF operated inside Lebanon against Hizbullah and hit it hard.
"During this war, the Home Front was a front. The Israeli citizens' strong standing provided an important tailwind to our fighters as well."
The ceremony began as Merav Amitai, the widow of Sergeant-Major Yaron Amitai, let a memorial candle. Yisrael Klausner, the bereaved father of Staff Sergeant Ohad Klausner, who was killed in the battle in Bint Jbeil, recited the Kaddish prayer.
On the backdrop of the state memorial, Prime Minister Olmert was harshly criticized by for failing to attend the event. Ynet reported that former Defense Minister Amir Peretz was also not planning to arrive at Mt Herzl because "he was not invited." Following the publication, Peretz announced that he had changed his mind and that he would attend the ceremony.
As part of the bereaved families' 'Journey of life', which began Monday morning in a ceremony at Kibbutz Kfar Giladi and went through a number of points symbolizing the Second Lebanon War, including the train depot in Haifa where a direct Katyusha hit killed eight civilians. The journey ended in Jerusalem.
The bereaved parents called on the government and on the Israeli public not to distinguish between fallen soldiers and civilians killed by Katyusha rocket hits during the war.
