President Herzog Honors Fallen Heroes At Western Wall As Israel Observes National Memorial Day

President Isaac Herzog delivers emotional tribute to Israel’s fallen soldiers at the Western Wall, linking ancient grief to modern sacrifice during Memorial Day.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 1:22 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channel 12

National Remembrance Begins At The Western Wall

The state memorial ceremony at the Western Wall Plaza commenced following a one-minute siren that sounded across the country at 8:00 PM on Monday. This solemn event marks the beginning of Memorial Day for the Fallen in Israel's Armed Forces and Hostile Acts, a period of profound reflection for the nation. The President of the State, the Minister of Defense, and the Chief of Staff are scheduled to deliver speeches to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. According to official protocols, a second, two-minute siren will sound tomorrow, Tuesday, at 11:00 AM to signify further national introspection and remembrance.

The Heroic Final Actions Of Doctor Eitan Menachem

President Yitzhak Herzog opened his address by recounting the life of Major Dr. Eitan Menachem Ne'eman, a pediatric intensive care doctor at Soroka Hospital who fell in battle. Herzog described Ne'eman as a man who dedicated his existence to saving children across the Negev. On the morning of October 7, Ne'eman rushed to the hospital to treat the wounded before insisting on joining his reserve unit the following day. According to Herzog, "Eitan chose, as he always chose, to charge," during an encounter with terrorists on the edge of Sderot on October 9. He fell alongside his comrades, Captain Yuval Al-Hilbani and First Sergeant Avihai Amsalem, while reportedly holding a live grenade thrown by the enemy to protect his unit.

A Thousand Year Connection To Gaza

The President highlighted a historical connection between modern loss and ancient grief through a prayer poem brought forward by Ne'eman’s cousin, Professor Shulamit Elitzur. The poem was written a thousand years ago by Rabbi Natan ben Yeshua, a rabbi from Gaza, upon the death of his own son. Herzog noted that while a millennium separates the two men, they are linked by a "chain of pain" and a "chain of poetry." Quoting the ancient text, Herzog shared the words: "I wept, and my soul will be wrapped around Eshkol, tears will be plucked from the vine over its inheritance, my eyes will flow until I am weary - from me We will be kidnapped."