Sirens wailed across Israel Monday morning, as Israelis stood in silence in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.
Israeli officials, Holocaust survivors and foreign dignitaries are in Jerusalem for solemn ceremonies in observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day. This year's theme at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial is the "Voices of the Survivors."
All across Israel, flags are flying at half-staff, places of entertainment are closed, and radio and television broadcasts are dedicated to remembering the Holocaust.
More than 200,000 Holocaust survivors currently live in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the opening ceremonies Sunday evening that free societies should have learned from the Holocaust the danger of remaining quiet in the face of evil.
U.S. President Barack Obama recognized Holocaust Remembrance Day by saying the "hateful stereotypes and prejudice" against Jewish people must not be tolerated.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
