Netanyahu and Rivlin praise troops, call for unity in Passover message
PM lauds security forces ‘who watch over us all year round,’ while president mentions ‘challenges we face’; IDF chief has seder with lone soldiers
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin came together on Friday to issue a joint Passover greeting to the Israeli people.
The two leaders met at the president’s official residence in Jerusalem to discuss Netanyahu’s visit to Russia this week, and recorded a joint holiday video message. (Hebrew clip below.)
“This is an opportunity to wish all the Israeli people a joyous festival, a holiday during which all the people are united. May we stand united against the challenges we face and overcome them,” Rivlin said.
Netanyahu, who spoke after the president, singled out Israel’s security forces, praising them for tireless protection of the country.
“Mr. President, together with you I send my greetings to all the ‘house of Israel’, and in particular to the Israeli servicemen and women, our soldiers, policemen and women, those serving in the border guards, who watch over us all year round,” Netanyahu said.
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, meanwhile, was attending a seder for lone soldiers at a resort owned by the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers, Ynet reported. Almost 500 soldiers from 35 countries, who do not have family in Israel, were joining him.
Israel’s soldiers will not go short of matzah over Passover, with the Defense Ministry sending some 95 tons of the unleavened bread to army bases across the country. The ministry also distributed 15,000 cases of the traditional dish of haroset and 27 tons of Kosher for Passover pastries.
