Israel marks Memorial Day plagued by divisions, violence

Israel marked its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of militant attacks on Tuesday against the backdrop of some of the deepest political divisions in its history and soaring tensions with Palestinians.

Israel marked its Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of militant attacks on Tuesday against the backdrop of some of the deepest political divisions in its history and soaring tensions with Palestinians.

Memorial Day is one of the most solemn moments on Israel's national calendar, in honour of its 24,213 war dead and 4,255 attack victims. It is typically a day of national unity but this year, tensions between Israeli supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government bubbled up.

In Tel Aviv, a group of bereaved families held a separate, alternative ceremony instead of the traditional visit to the cemeteries, to avoid politics.

"This year, the Israeli nation is torn between extremists. And we don't want to confront the politician saying their agenda, bringing their agenda inside our sacred place," said mourner Israel Shur, who attended the alternative ceremony near a building where Israeli independence was declared 75 years ago.

As is customary, people across the country came to a standstill when a two-minute siren sounded late in the morning. Motorists and pedestrians halted in the street, stopped their cars and stood with heads bowed. Bereaved families visited cemeteries and attended ceremonies while television and radio programming shifted to sombre music and documentaries about slain soldiers.

In a speech at the official ceremony at a Jerusalem military cemetery, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the lives of several fallen soldiers and spoke of the "brotherhood" of the Israeli people, a kinship fortified by military service that is compulsory for most Jews.

"We will stand together as brothers and ensure our independence from generation to generation," Netanyahu said. "We will bow our heads to the bravery of the fallen."