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Order of the Day Issued by
The Chief of the IDF General Staff
On the Occasion ofRemembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel's Wars
5758 - 1998
Officers and soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces,
Israel and the IDF celebrate this year the 50th anniversary of the State
of Israel. On this Memorial Day we remember the heavy price paid for our
independence, for the right to live in our nation, in peace and
security.
As each year, this day brings us to the military cemeteries throughout the
country, to the gravestones beneath which lie our soldiers, our comrades
who have fallen in the course of wars, operations, ongoing security
activities, in terror attacks, in training, and in accidents. Our fight
for survival extracted from us an extremely high price, a price whose full
weight is felt every day, every hour, every minute by the bereaved
families, Those who have lost their most priceless possession - their sons
and daughters who shall never grow old, who, with their deaths have left
behind unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and have left only a void and pain
which permits no consolation.
The Israel Defense Forces, pay tribute to the memory of the fallen, those
who have lost their lives while fighting for Israel's existence. Each of
these fallen leaves a gap within our ranks. Our army is strong and is
ready for any task; it is well trained and well-educated, courageous and
united. However, the loss of the fallen can be felt in all areas: in all
aspects of Israeli society.
Israeli society has experienced fifty years of blossoming and prosperity,
of progress and development, of immigration and absorption. This
extraordinary accomplishment was achieved by flesh and blood, by those who
are still with as, and by those who are no longer amongst us. They are the
ones who have created this miracle. If those who have fallen were still
within our ranks, Israeli society would be yet stronger, better and
fuller. They have made the supreme sacrifice, their families have paid the
price and their absence is felt by our entire Nation. The Israel Defense
Forces will continue to march forward along the path blazed by its fallen
soldiers, loyal to its objective , devoted to its goal and true to the
righteousness and justness of its cause.
The Israel Defense Forces salutes the memory of its fallen soldiers; bows
its head before their names in reverence and respect, embraces and
comforts the bereaved families seeking to give them strength. We in the
IDF pledge to keep their memory alive and march along the path blazed by
their loved ones.
May their memories blessed.
Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, Lt. Gen.
Chief of the Israel Defense Forces General Staff
| Number of soldiers and security personnel who have fallen since the War of Independence | 18,748 |
| Total number fallen (including the pre-State period) | 20,337 |
| Number of disabled soldiers | 77,126 |
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