From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
In Memorial Day speech, Smotrich says Israelis fought together against enemies despite differences
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Despite their differences, Israelis have stood and fought together against their enemies, declares Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Kfar Etzion cemetery, asserting that the residents of the Gush Etzion settlement bloc had written “another glorious chapter in the history of the People of Israel.”
“For the past two and a half years, we have been in the midst of a campaign; alongside the great achievements, there are also prices, alongside the high points, there were also low points, yet our spirit remains steadfast,” he says. “Our enemies viewed our internal struggles as an opportunity, but they were mistaken. At the moment of truth, in the tank, in the plane, and at the post, we all stand as one fist in the historic struggle between good and evil. And good is destined to prevail.”
“We will continue to build our land out of unity, to be worthy of the sacrifice of the fallen buried here. We will continue to carry the torch of generations, and in its light we will continue to build Gush Etzion and the State of Israel,” Smotrich adds.
The Times of Israel Community.