The One Million Lobby Association, an Israeli-based lobby and non-governmental organization that advocates for the concerns of Russian speakers in the nation, hosted a ceremony to honor dead immigrant IDF soldiers and security professionals in the ongoing conflict against Hamas and Hezbollah. The ceremony, held earlier this month at the American Zionist House, honored roughly 60 troops and security workers who traveled to Israel from other nations and lost their lives in the conflict that started on October 7 of last year. To ensure that their bravery is remembered and never forgotten, the event was devoted to honoring and acknowledging their great sacrifice. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, and Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel Doron Almog attended the occasion together with representatives of war-related bereaved families. The mourning families were joined at the gathering by Hebrew University of Jerusalem immigrant students.
The importance of remembering fallen soldiers
“This unique commemorative event is in memory of soldiers and security forces who immigrated to Israel alone or with their families from many countries in the world and fell in this difficult war,” Herzog stated. The tale of generations of immigrant soldiers and heroes who made Aliyah to Israel and gave their lives in defense of the people is brought to light by this event. The event was organized by One Million Lobby in collaboration with the Israeli grocery chain Tiv Ta’am, Olim Together, The Parents Circle-Families Forum, and the Naale initiative, among other organizations. Students and the families of the departed participated in a ceremony given in their honor, and an exhibition featured the fallen troops and their tales. Alex Rif, the CEO of the One Million Lobby Association, said, “As part of the national-Zionist war story that will be written in the pages of history, we are here to make sure that the stories of the soldiers and security personnel who fell in the war will not be forgotten and will be an integral part of the Israeli narrative.” Capt. Yaakov Nedlin, 36, from Kazakhstan, was killed in the West Bank village of Immatain; St.-Sgt. Berhanu Kasia, 22 from Ethiopia, was killed in the Gaza Strip; Chief Warrant Officer Major Yakir Blochman, 33, from Russia, was killed by Hamas in Kibbutz Re’im; and Maj.-Gen. Akiva Yasinsky, 36, who immigrated from the then-USSR, was killed in Khan Yunis, Gaza.
Immigrant soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice
Syrian state television said that Israeli strikes on the capital Damascus had killed three civilians. It was unclear right away if the three presenters state media had mentioned were the same ones who had previously claimed that one of their hosts had been slain. Independent verification of the reports was not possible. Israel conducted more bombings in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh after the Israeli military issued fresh directives directing the rapid evacuation of three nearby structures. Late Monday night, massive explosions were heard in the capital of Lebanon. This is the second time Israel has told Dahieh residents to leave before strikes, according to military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who released maps of three Dahieh localities and advised them to do so more than 500 meters away. The health ministry of Lebanon reports that Israeli attacks killed at least 95 people around the country on Monday. The first airstrike to strike in the center of the Lebanese capital since 2006 struck an apartment complex in central Beirut early on Monday.
The role of immigrants in Israel’s security forces
In response to rumors that it had pulled back three miles from the southern border of the country, the Lebanese army declared it was “repositioning and regrouping forces.” According to reports, the Lebanese army has moved to barracks in the border villages and left monitoring stations along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel. According to a UN official, intense artillery bombardment from Israeli forces and Hezbollah has prevented UN personnel in Lebanon from patrolling southern border areas. According to a UN secretary-general spokesperson on Monday, the more than 10,000-person peacekeeping force “remains in position” but is unable to conduct road patrols because of “the intensity of the rockets going back and forth.” After speaking with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated the two “agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border” with Lebanon. “The United States is well-positioned to defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations,” he added.
