Headlines
Israel comes to a halt to remember Holocaust
Jerusalem, April 16
Israelis across the
country stood in silence as sirens wailed on Thursday to remember the
six million Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis during World War
II.
The entire nation came to a standstill as sirens pierced the
air at 10 a.m., heralding the start of a series of memorial activities
marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, Xinhua news agency reported.
Traffic
on roads and highways stopped. Many drivers stepped out of their
vehicles, standing still in contemplation. Pedestrians halted their
steps and stood in silence.
TV channels and radio stations were
broadcasting solely Holocaust-related content, such as documentaries,
interviews with survivors and melancholic songs.
Memorial ceremonies were held in schools across the country.
At
the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, President Reuven Rivlin
and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid wreaths in memory of the
victims.
Later on Thursday, ministers, lawmakers and Holocaust
survivors will read out the names of Holocaust victims at the Israeli
parliament, Knesset.
This year marks 70 years since the end of World War II.
On
Wednesday, opening the memorial events at Yad Vashem, President Rivlin
said Israel would continue to struggle against anti-Semitism around the
world.