Religious officials participate in annual ceremony along with members of Netzah Yehuda, a battalion for Haredi troops

Echoing pleas for unity made by fellow Israeli leaders, defense chief calls for setting aside political differences because 'the bereaved relatives deserve this'

Country will come to standstill for siren at 11 a.m. followed by ceremonies paying respects to slain servicemembers and terror victim, before transitioning to Independence Day

Amir Khoury, 32, the last member of Israel's security forces killed before Memorial Day, remembered by family, fiancee and others for giving own life to save others from terrorist

Siren sounds nationwide to begin day of mourning for country's 28,284 fallen soldiers and terror victims, including 177 from past year; IDF chief: 'We defend the right to life'

Bennett appeals for national unity at commemoration event, warns enemies could exploit internal divides 'to harm us'

Flyer signed by dozens of people with fallen relatives is criticized by Eli Ben Shem, chairman of Yad Labanim, for mixing the mourning with politics

PTSD sufferer Itzik Saidyan, who set himself on fire to protest neglect by authorities, releases audio clip on eve of Memorial Day, thanks public for support

On eve of Memorial Day, Barlev says in interview that death of Barak Sharabi, 21, 'deep inside Syrian territory' is among those he finds hardest; military censor later lifts gag

Border crossings for Palestinians to reopen 'subject to a situational assessment'; exceptions to be made for humanitarian cases