How this Israeli Independence Day differs from those of previous years

Not in recent memory have Israelis faced such a profound moral and physical toll as they do on the eve of this year's national days of remembrance—the ten days spanning from Holocaust Remembrance Day to Israel's Independence Day.

Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers (יום הזיכרון, Yom HaZikaron in Hebrew) is observed on the eve of Independence Day (יום העצמאות, Yom HaAtzmaut) and one week after Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day (יום הזיכרון לאסון והגבורה, Yom HaShoah) commemorating the victims of the Second World War. Yom HaZikaron honors those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of the nation since the 1948 War of Independence. It is marked by a nationwide siren, solemn broadcasting, memorial candles lit in synagogues and homes, and official ceremonies and prayers.

A Portrait of Israeli Society

As of May 12, 2024, 716 soldiers have fallen in the war initiated against Israel on October 7. These fallen service members leave behind more than 2,180 siblings, 1,294 parents, 248 widows, and 530 orphaned children. Crucially, nearly 1,400 Israeli civilians lost their lives in this war, and more than 200 individuals were abducted by Hamas militants. Of those hostages, 132 have yet to return home, and 38 among them have already been declared deceased. I present these figures to illustrate the scale of the tragedy that has enveloped Israeli society, an ordeal I share personally, having lost a son in military service. Increasingly, the long-dormant term "pogrom" is being used in Israel to define the events of October 7. And the toll continues to rise...

Ahead of Independence Day, Israeli statistical agencies published data reflecting the nation's demographics. Israel’s population currently stands at 9.9 million. Over the past year, the population grew by 189,000, with 37,000 new immigrants arriving and 196,000 births recorded. Demographically, 28% of Israelis are under the age of 14, while 12% are over the age of 65.

An Existential Challenge

The 76th Independence Day will begin on the evening immediately following Memorial Day. This year, it marks the independence of a small, young nation seeking to comprehend how to move forward amidst profound grief while facing some of the most critical and difficult decisions in its history. Not since the Holocaust has the Jewish people experienced such a blow to morale, to public trust in leadership, and to the diaspora’s confidence in the strength of the Jewish state.

The future of Jewish communities is secure nowhere—neither in Europe nor in the United States. We are witnessing a surge of antisemitism, ranging from traditional religious prejudice to left-wing academic, post-colonial discourse. In recent months, this academic critique has shifted from lectures and seminars to violent demonstrations and barricades on university campuses. Such developments have deeply unsettled and alarmed Jewish communities in the West.

As the events of October 7 demonstrated, the future of the Jewish population is not guaranteed in Israel either. Furthermore, even these recent atrocities are already being subjected to denial—reminiscent of the revisionism surrounding the Holocaust of World War II.

This forces us to address fundamental questions where historical ignorance is most glaring: Why does Israel exist, and why in this particular location on the world map? In what sense is Israel considered a "colonial" state? How can a people who have inhabited their land for 3,000 years be labeled invaders?

It must be stated plainly: the international community is increasingly questioning Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. This is the explicit intent behind the slogan echoed on the streets of London, Paris, and New York: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." Implied is a Palestine free of its Jewish population.

While the territory encompassing the modern State of Israel has had various borders and names throughout history, there has not been a single day in the past 3,000 years without a Jewish presence.

Terrorism Must Be Confronted and Eradicated

The international community continues to engage in negotiations with the terrorist organization Hamas, fails to adequately counter attempts to deny the mass atrocities and sexual violence of October 7, validates certain demands of the terrorists, and hesitates to seek their complete dismantlement. Certain nations even continue to harbor, fund, and provide a platform for Hamas leadership to operate unimpeded.

Yet, Hamas must be dismantled—not only for Israel's security but for the future of the Palestinian people, who also possess the right to a peaceful life. Regrettably, this reality has not yet been accepted as an international axiom.

This impasse is maintained by certain governments, as well as the United Nations and its agencies, which have for decades perpetuated a permanent refugee status for Palestinians while permitting the cultivation of hostility toward Jews within educational institutions. This paradoxical tolerance of terror is further driven by states that fund armed proxies to advance pan-Islamic and pan-Arab geopolitical agendas, and to build military capabilities aimed at challenging the United States.

Over the history of the State of Israel, countless peace initiatives and proposals to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict have been systematically rejected by its adversaries.

On May 11, the UN General Assembly effectively rewarded terrorism when 143 delegations voted to upgrade the status of the Palestinian delegation. Although Palestine is not recognized as a full member state by the international community and its representatives cannot vote, they are now permitted to participate in debates and committee work.

Only nine nations voted against the resolution, while 25 abstained.

It is difficult to accept the premise that the public lacks access to information. The facts and figures are readily available. The core issue is that many choose not to acknowledge what occurred and continues to occur in Israel—a phenomenon historically understood as "willful ignorance."

Reflecting this reality, Jewish students face unprecedented hostility within elite academic institutions in the West, while the State of Israel finds itself in near-total diplomatic isolation. Even steadfast allies, such as the United States, appear to vacillate, balancing their support against domestic electoral considerations.

That said, global public opinion is not entirely uniform, as evidenced by the recent Eurovision Song Contest. While the cultural value of the event remains debatable, it serves as an interesting indicator of public sentiment. Despite intense anti-Israel pressure, voters across numerous nations cast their ballots for Israeli representative Eden Golan, securing her fifth place in the competition. According to members of the Israeli delegation, many international representatives quietly expressed solidarity but refused to be photographed or to post supportive messages on social media.

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This Independence Day will be uniquely solemn—a day of rigorous national self-examination regarding both internal and external challenges, and a sober acknowledgment that without systemic reform, such tragedies are bound to recur. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of Israelis maintain the resolve to confront past errors and reconstruct the nation, ensuring it remains capable of enduring any threat to its sovereignty.