Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel has learned peace can be achieved only if Israel remains strong and prepared to defend itself as its fallen soldiers have done in the past.
Netanyahu spoke at Ammunition Hill to commemorate Memorial Day in Israel, which will be marked with nationwide sirens at 8 P.M. followed by a state ceremony.
"Over the years, we have learned that the olive branch of peace will be achieved only if we remain strong, only if we will be prepared to defend our blood in the same way our fallen soldiers did at this site,".
"They attacked from this site and other hills, not out of lust for war, but out of the belief in the righteousness of the goal of defending the Jewish people's one and only country," he added.
Netanyahu also spoke about the importance of Jerusalem, saying, "Twice we have paid the heavy price to release the siege on Jerusalem - the first time during the War of Independence and the second time when the city was bombarded during the Six-Day War. Jerusalem, which was then a withered divided city returned to being a city full of life."
"One of the critical battles in this campaign took place here. True heroes fell here. They and their friends changed our country's way of life."
"Forty-three years ago Jerusalem was a divided city with a wall at its heart. Today, along that same route the tracks are placed for the light rail, which will connect the thriving neighborhoods that have been built over dozens of years," he said.
"Jerusalem, once a divided city, has become a city of life, productivity and rejuvenation.
"Not a day has gone by in which we have not extended our hand in peace to our neighbors. That hand is still reaching out to those who want peace. Over the years we have learned that olive branches of peace will be obtained only if we remain strong and prepared to defend our country.
"The fighters of Ammunition Hill, as well as the other fighters, gave up their lives for the State of Israel. They believed in the righteousness of protecting the Jewish nation's only state," he said.
Netanyahu spoke at Ammunition Hill to commemorate Memorial Day in Israel, which will be marked with nationwide sirens at 8 P.M. followed by a state ceremony.
"Over the years, we have learned that the olive branch of peace will be achieved only if we remain strong, only if we will be prepared to defend our blood in the same way our fallen soldiers did at this site,".
"They attacked from this site and other hills, not out of lust for war, but out of the belief in the righteousness of the goal of defending the Jewish people's one and only country," he added.
Netanyahu also spoke about the importance of Jerusalem, saying, "Twice we have paid the heavy price to release the siege on Jerusalem - the first time during the War of Independence and the second time when the city was bombarded during the Six-Day War. Jerusalem, which was then a withered divided city returned to being a city full of life."
"One of the critical battles in this campaign took place here. True heroes fell here. They and their friends changed our country's way of life."
"Forty-three years ago Jerusalem was a divided city with a wall at its heart. Today, along that same route the tracks are placed for the light rail, which will connect the thriving neighborhoods that have been built over dozens of years," he said.
"Jerusalem, once a divided city, has become a city of life, productivity and rejuvenation.
"Not a day has gone by in which we have not extended our hand in peace to our neighbors. That hand is still reaching out to those who want peace. Over the years we have learned that olive branches of peace will be obtained only if we remain strong and prepared to defend our country.
"The fighters of Ammunition Hill, as well as the other fighters, gave up their lives for the State of Israel. They believed in the righteousness of protecting the Jewish nation's only state," he said.