President Herzog Addresses the State Memorial Ceremony for the Fallen Soldiers of the Swords of Iron War

President Herzog: “In this painful war, we have lost so many of the finest of our daughters and sons. We must remember them forever and tell their stories”

On October 5, 2026, President Isaac Herzog addressed the State Memorial Ceremony for the Fallen Soldiers of the Swords of Iron War at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

President Isaac Herzog:

“Over the past three years, we have seen families coping with loss, with injuries, with hopes that went unfulfilled, with uncertainty that persists, and with a demand for answers and a response. We have seen Israeli citizens forced to leave their homes, communities uprooted from the daily lives, and an entire country called upon to confront a reality we had never known before.

“And amidst all of this, we have also seen the strength this remarkable people know how to summon, to draw from deep within. We have seen Israelis who rose out of their pain to help others. We have seen Israelis who reached out a hand and were met by an outstretched hand. We have seen people who did not ask who stood before them, but asked what they needed. We have seen people who returned to build, to plant, and to harvest.

“Over the past three years, as a nation, we have experienced, unfathomable lows. But we have also ascended to unfathomable heights. We brought hostages home, both those to rebuild their lives, and those – heartbreakingly – for burial in Israel.

“In this painful war, to our profound sorrow, we have lost so many of the finest of our daughters and sons. Remarkable young women and men, as well as those who had accumulated many years of life and who built families, homes, and communities, from every background among the people of Israel, from every corner of Israel, from every viewpoint, religion, faith, camp, and way of life. We must remember, and recall, forever, the many we have lost. We must tell their stories.

“In the midst of an election campaign, we must look closely and heed the glaring warning lights, those that signal deep division and dangerous rifts. Of course we are allowed to disagree, and it is even our duty to debate the important matters and the big questions. But we must remember: whoever disagrees with you today will live here alongside you tomorrow as well. Their children will grow up in the same country as your children. They will be called upon to protect it, together, and to build its future, together.”