Avigdor Kahalani, a former minister, MK and a retired brigadier general in the IDF, will be one of the torch-lighters at this year’s official Independence Day ceremony. He has been recognized repeatedly for his actions during his military service, including in the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Both current Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and former defense minister Benny Gantz praise the decision to tap Kahalani for the honor.
Kahalani will be joined by Shalom Assayag, a comedian, actor and filmmaker, who will also light a torch. So will Nina Avidar Weiner, founding president of the Israel Scholarship Education Foundation, as well as Vered Ben Saadon, founder of the Tura winery in the West Bank.
They are the first names of torch-lighters to be announced this year, despite the ceremony taking place in just 10 days. More names are expected to be released in the coming days.
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