Former Knesset Speaker and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz spoke at the ceremony in the plenary on Memorial Day • His friend Blue White MK Gabi Ashkenazi participated in a zooming conversation with fighters: "Most important is that everyone remembers and talks about one fighter"
Knesset Speaker Benny Gantz at the ceremony today
Photo:
Opponent Nadav / Knesset spokesmen
The Knesset plenary held a special meeting on Tuesday to mark the Memorial Day. Knesset Speaker and Blue-White Chairman Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz said: "For us, today's leaders are also an opportunity to remember what is the mission that needs to guide us. What a heavy responsibility we bear on our shoulders, remembering that there is sometimes no choice but to fight - and that we must always strive for peace in a way that is rejected and may also prevent the next war. Remembering our foundation of existence here - military power and moral power. "
"When we remember the first death of the country during the War of Independence, we understand what would have happened if there was no state for Jews. And when we remember, we sanctify the strength of Israeli society. The demise we, among others, are entrusted with in this house.
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"Honestly, for me this is the most important day of the year. Precisely because death fills this day, I understand the power of life and the duty that our lives here have in meaning. We know how to act with good intentions, take responsibility, fill our society with the spirit of giving and caring and being an Arab To me. To me, this is also the will of the fallen. Only that we deserve them. May their memory be blessed. "
"Hard Fight Face to Face"
No. 2 in Blue and White, Brig. Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi participated in the talk of a fighter's talk in the wake of the first Lebanon war, attended by MK Michael Biton (13th Battalion), Golani fighters in reserve, and dozens of participants.
Ashkenazi shared with the participants the story of the Beaufort battle, and the late Goni Hernick, the patrol commander who was killed during the battle.
"They fought a fierce, face-to-face, five-meter battle within narrow canals. Goony fell during the last ditch cleansing. They continue the purification, and conquer the Beaufort. The Beaufort is in our hands. The price is terrible. Six fall. Goni Hernik, Yaron Zamir, Yosef Eliel, Gil Ben Akiva, Avikam Sharf, Raz Guterman, their memory for the blessing.
Goni was killed for what he believed. Because of his willingness to sacrifice. To be with the fighters. The value of evil and personal example tell a lot. That's the real story. He couldn't be far from his fighters. He wanted to be close to them and was right to do any task. We looked at each other, it was clear he was flying to Beaufort and taking command. He paid for it in his life. It is a supreme example of personal example, evil, adherence to the mission, and willingness to sacrifice. These are not empty words. That's why it's so worthwhile to learn about Goni's act. He came, joined, fought and was killed. "
Ashkenazi continued: "For me, the most important thing is that, from this day, each of you will remember and tell about one fighter. One who fell. Tell his friends at work. "We remember. We will remember them about the circumstances of their lives and not just the circumstances of their deaths. We owe them the memory. Take one name for you. And tell their story."
The initiative for the zooming conversation was that of Uri Schindel, a Golani fighter, who wanted to hear from Ashkenazi backers about Goni Hernik and the battle in Beaufort. "We heard about Goni at the age of 18, which is why I went to Golani. His story, how he joined fighting as a liberated citizen, was something about this story that touched me," Schindel said.
