Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 1, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, May 1, 2025
IDF chief: ‘We have far more that unites us than divides us’
Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
President Isaac Herzog (right) and IDF chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir at an Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem, May 1, 2025. (Elad Malka)
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasizes national unity during his speech at the annual president’s ceremony for outstanding soldiers, stating that the military serves as a reminder of what unites Israelis rather than what divides them.
“The IDF is a living reminder that we have far more that unites us than divides us,” Zamir said. “Within this uniform, there is no left or right, no center or periphery — there is one people, with one goal: mutual responsibility and peace.”
The ceremony, held every year on Independence Day at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, honors outstanding soldiers for exceptional service and dedication.
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