68 years old, still fighting for its existence, and not apologizing for it. This is Israel.
In the past 68 years, in 7 wars, tens of operations and hundreds terror attacks, 23,447 Israelis lost their lives. Some were soldiers who died in combat, others were civilians who went outside, in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In comparison to the number of casualties in wars worldwide, 23,447 in 68 years is almost nothing. But in this small country, where every day is another battle for our survival, the pain never eases.
Israel did not initiate any of its wars. It just happened to be the target of Arab countries surrounding it, and terror organizations worldwide. To the people who try to physically kill us, joined recently people who wish to kill us emotionally. Those are the hundreds of thousands who participate in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaigns, aimed to first isolate and then delegitimize the state we fought so hard to keep intact.
Every year, more names are being added to the list of the fallen. Every year, the pain grows bigger and bigger as more members join Israel's Family of Bereavement. Every year, an entire nation sheds a tear on Memorial Day, a day before we celebrate Israel's Independence Day.
Many wondered why we celebrate the happiest day of the year just hours before we mention the saddest. For some, it seems inappropriate, this sudden switch between grief and celebration. But this is our reality, for 68 years. Brave men and women died so that we can have a safe and quiet night's sleep, and celebrate our country's birthday. Those men and women are the sacrifice our country made, and they are the reason we're here.
The battle for Israel's right to exist began on the 29 of November, 1947, when the General Assembly of the U.N voted for the partition of what was once supposed to be named Palestine into two states- one for the Jews and one for the Arabs. The Jews accepted this partition, while the Arabs declined. They wanted the entire territory and were unwilling to settle.
This was the beginning of an endless war of defense. At first from the Arab countries surrounding us, and then from terror organizations. This battle for existence doesn't end, and probably never will, Every year, more men and women, soldiers and civilians, are being killed, not because of a problem that can be resolved, but because the mere existence of Israel is unacceptable by some. Simultaneously, with every combat and every terror attack, the hatred towards Israel grows.
Families and friends of fallen soldiers are forced to deal not only with their personal grievance and loss, but also with the demonization of their lost ones on foreign media and social networks. Not only are we as a nation need to still fight for our right to live our lives on this small piece of land, we are forced to combine the national grievance with justification of our existence.
We all want this war to end and for the bloodshed to stop. We all want peace, but we will also continue to hold up our shield and be alert, until we will secure our existence. We will not let our loved ones deaths be in vain, and will not apologize for it.
