Eden Alena, who is set to represent the country at Eurovision 2021, broke down in tears while singing an emotional ballad at the state ceremony in honor of Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel.
The 20-year-old singer began crying while singing "The Journey to the Land of Israel" with the Education and Youth Corps Band where she does her military service.
Eden Alene breaks down during song
The song was written by Israeli songwriter Haim Idisis and composed by Shlomo Gronich.
The ceremony in Jerusalem was also attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who expressed his pride at heading a government that for the first time in history has a minister of an Ethiopian descent.
"I'm very proud to head a government that has, for the first time ever, a minister and a deputy minister of Ethiopian descent," he said.
"This is a landmark moment for the people of Israel and the State of Israel that you are here in your position," Netanyahu added, addressing Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata from Blue & White and MK Gadi Jibrakan from the Likud.
The Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews is an annual event that is meant to commemorate four thousand Ethiopian Jews who perished during their journey from Ethiopia to Israel throughout the years.
The event also meant to honor those who died in Sudanese refugee camps while they awaited to be allowed to immigrate to Israel. Eventually some 90,000 were smuggled by Israel's secret service as part of "Operation Brothers" which took place between 1977 to 1979, Operation Moses between 1984 and 1985, and Operation Solomon in 1991.
The events are a basis for the Netflix thriller “The Red Sea Diving Resort.”