Israel marked its 78th Independence Day with the traditional ceremony honoring 120 outstanding soldiers at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, hosted by President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal Herzog.
The ceremony, which was recorded in advance for security reasons, aired on Wednesday morning. Officials said the decision to pre-record the event was made in light of the ongoing ceasefire and the broader security situation, with attendance limited to the soldiers’ families and strict measures in place, including not revealing the identities of the honorees.
As in previous years, the President’s Award was presented to 120 soldiers selected from across the IDF, representing all branches of service.
“It’s hard to recall another time when the honorees are soldiers who have spent most of their service at war. What you’ve been through over the past two and a half years is extraordinary,” Herzog said.
He stressed that “even at this moment, thousands of our finest sons and daughters are serving on multiple fronts,” and thanked IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, commanders, and all forces, adding: “The achievements the IDF has reached this year are beyond anything we could have imagined.”
He concluded by expressing gratitude to the bereaved families, “who remind us of the heavy price that accompanies our lives on Independence Day.”
Former hostage Alon Ohel and IDF soldier Dvir Bublil perform together
The event opened with a ceremonial flyover by Israeli Air Force fighter jets and helicopters, saluting the honorees. Speaking over the radio to the pilots, Herzog said: “Soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces on land, in the air, and at sea, you are the generation that defends, you are the generation that fights. On behalf of the State of Israel, as President, I thank you. I salute you.”
The ceremony carried a theme of recovery and hope, alongside a tribute marking 20 years since the death of iconic Israeli singer Shoshana Damari. It featured performances by leading Israeli artists, accompanied by military bands.
A joint performance of “Shir Lelo Shem” (“A Song Without a Name”) was held by former hostage Alon Ohel and IDF soldier Dvir Bublil, who was seriously wounded on October 7, 2023, while fighting at the Erez outpost. The two also shared a personal conversation on resilience, bravery, and recovery.
“When I was there, 50 meters underground, tied by my legs, looking like a corpse, I could only dream of moments like this, sitting here on Independence Day and playing in front of you,” Ohel said.
The ceremony was hosted by Hadar Marks and Michael Aloni.
Source:
www.jpost.com
