Two days of reflection and celebration began in Israel last night as Israelis remember fallen soldiers and terror victims on Memorial Day before celebrating Independence Day tomorrow.

A one-minute siren marked the start of the Yom Hazikaron ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, to honour the 23, 447 fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terrorism. President Reuven Rivlin lit a memorial torch before addressing the audience.

He said: “Last year, as I stood before you… I sought to dream. I prayed that maybe, from that Memorial Day to this one, I won’t have to visit any more homes of families whose world just fell apart… But this year, too, we were hit with the harsh reality.”

He added: “For over 68 years, we’ve been fighting the same war – the war for our independence.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed bereaved families, saying: “Our sons and daughters go to battle because of a higher calling, and that is exactly the difference between an enslaved and beaten people, as we were up until 68 years ago… But the price is terrible.”

Memorial ceremonies will take place across the country today including the state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, followed by a ceremony for the victims of terror attacks. The Defence Ministry estimates that more than 1.5 million Israelis will visit military cemeteries over the coming days.

Tomorrow the mood will change as Israelis celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut with barbeques and picnics.