Israel on Monday marked Memorial Day, paying its respects to the 23,544 men and women who have died from war and terror attacks since the early days of the Jewish settlement in the country.
The official Memorial Day State Ceremony at Mt. Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem (ISRAEL POLICE)Memorial Day events began with an official state Ceremony at Mt. Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem late in the morning, which was preceded by a two-minute-long siren that pierced the air as the country came to a standstill in respectful silence.Throughout the day, additional ceremonies in memory of the fallen are taking place across the country. 
A man mourns over a gravestone at the national military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Memorial Day, May 1, 2017 (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) 
IDF soldiers at the national military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Memorial Day, May 1, 2017 (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Crowds at the official Memorial Day State Ceremony at Mt. Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
An IDF soldier seats next to a gravestone at the national military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Memorial Day, May 1, 2017 (MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the official Memorial Day State Ceremony at Mt. Herzl Cemetery in Jerusalem (KOBI GIDEON/GPO)
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman lay a wreath at the Memorial Day Ceremony in Kiryat Shaul (ARIEL HERMONI/DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman at the Memorial Day Ceremony in Kiryat Shaul (ARIEL HERMONI/DEFENSE MINISTRY)On Sunday evening, sorrow will be replaced by celebrations as the country transitions from Remembrance Day to Independence Day and city streets fill up with revelers, celebrating the state's 69th birthday.
Siren brings Israel to a standstill as 23,544 fallen remembered (credit: JPOST)
Singing Hatikva at the Memorial Day ceremony in Kfar Etzion (credit: TOVAH LAZAROFF)
