Yad Vashem to Commemorate VE Day

On Sunday, May 9, 2004, Yad Vashem will hold the official ceremony marking the 59th anniversary of the allied victory over Nazi Germany. Minister for Immigrant Absorption Tzippi Livni and US Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer will participate.

Hundreds of Jewish World War II veterans of the allied armies, the majority from the former Soviet Union, will attend, along with Jewish fighters and partisans, and veterans of the Jewish Brigade.

Speakers:

Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate

MK Tzippi Livni, Minister for Immigrant Absorption

HE Daniel Kurtzer, Ambassador of the United States to Israel

Representatives of Jewish fighters against the Nazis

Minister Livni will lay a wreath in memory of those who fell in the struggle against the Nazis, as will representatives of the IDF, ambassadors and military attachés of the Allied countries, and representatives of fighters and partisan organizations. The Israeli Police Choir will perform at the ceremony.

The ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. at the Memorial to the Jewish Soldiers at Yad Vashem.

The event is open to the press.

The ceremony is being organized with the participation of the Education Ministry and partisan and veteran organizations, in conjunction with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.