'Iran threatens, the world silent'

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at Yad Vashem on Sunday focused on the rising Iranian threat, a threat to repeat the holocaust. “In the face of [Iran’s] calls to erase the Jewish state from the face of the earth repeated time and again, we see at best mild protestations, and this too seems to be fading,” Netanyahu lambasted the international community.

"The historic failure of free societies to confront the Nazi beast was that they did not face it in time," Netanyahu said. "And today we are witness to the old hatred of Jews once again, fueled by extremist Islamic authorities, led by Iran and its satellites."

"Iran's leadership is racing to develop nuclear weapons and declares its intention to destroy Israel. The world is gradually accepting Iran's exterminatory declarations regarding Israel and still we do not see the international determination required to stop the arming of Iran. But if we learned something from the Holocaust, it is that we cannot remain quiet or flinch in the face of evil."


President Shimon Peres before him also addressed the Irianian threat in his speech, stressing that the world can not display the apathy that cost so many their lives in the past.

"It is our right and duty to demand of the world's nations to not repeat their indifference, which has cost millions of human lives, including theirs. The United Nations must be attentive to annihilation threats coming from one of its members, against another member state," said Peres.

The central Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Yad Vashem began Sunday evening at 8 p.m. and was broadcasted live on Israeli television. The central theme for this year’s Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day will be the Voice of the Survivors – those who, according to a museum press release, “honor the victims and strive to safeguard their memory.”

President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are slated to speak at the ceremony. Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, himself a Holocaust survivor, will light the Memorial Torch. Hana Weiss will represent the survivors.

Also referring to the defense of the Jewish people in light of the lessons learned by the Holocaust, Israel Defense Forces chief Gabi Ashkenazi said earlier Sunday that never again would the Jewish people lack the means to defend themselves.

Speaking at the Yad Vashem memorial, Ashkenazi said the Jewish people "will never again be dependent on the benevolence of others," Ashkenazi said. "Never again will Jewish children be fearful or begging for mercy. Never again will an advocate of evil be able to dictate the future of the Jewish people."

"In the name of my father and his family who fought for a sovereign and independent state and in the name of the millions who were unable to witness the realization of their dream, I stand here today as the commander of the Hebrew defense force, the Israel Defense Forces."
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