Israel marks Holocaust Memorial Day

JERUSALEM, April 16 (UPI) -- Activity across Israel came to a halt for 2 minutes Monday morning as the country observed its annual Holocaust Memorial Day.

Sirens rang out in every corner of the country to signal the traditional moment of silence to honor the victims of the Nazis, YNetNews reported Monday.

Following the moment of silence, officials including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Acting President and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and resigning Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi attended a ceremonial reading of the names of Holocaust victims in the country's Knesset.

Memorial ceremonies are being held over the course of the day at schools and institutions around the country. A special service has been planned at the country's National Military Cemetery at Mount Herzl to honor Jewish volunteers who were killed in combat during World War II.

"Most of the world population is aware of the Holocaust and aware of the evil agenda of Holocaust deniers," Olmert said at a Sunday evening ceremony, "they withhold from the Jewish people the right to a sovereign state. They are the first to find an excuse for any atrocity committed against Israeli civilians and the loudest in censuring defensive operations of the state of Israel."