Memorial service held for 25th anniversary of Begin's death
Some 150 ascend to the Mount of Olives to honor Israelºs sixth prime minister; his son, MK Benny Begin, read Kaddish.
A memorial service was held on Thursday afternoon on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives for the 25th anniversary of the death of Israel's sixth prime minister, Menachem Begin.
The graveside ceremony, attended by about 150, was held under high security. As is the custom every year, only the late prime minister's son, MK Benny Begin, said Kaddish, the Jewish memorial prayer. No eulogies were pronounced, and the service ended with an impromptu group rendition of the Betar Song, written by Ze'ev Jabotinsky.
Minister for Regional Cooperation Tzachi Hanegbi said on Thursday, "Nobody predicted that Begin would turn out to be a brave statesman who would bring peace with the largest Arab country and also destroy the nuclear reactor that was built by our ruthless enemies. Thanks to the legacy of Menachem Begin, the Likud movement continues to bear the heavy responsibility of leading the State of Israel to a safe future."
