16 Years later, Israel mourns with US 16 years on, US and Israel mourn 9/11 attacks, laud anti-terror alliance US ambassador praises Israel for standing by America, says relationship strengthened, as relatives read names of victims at Ground Zero in New York By TOI staff and AP September 11, 2017, Israeli and US servicemen holding a moment of silence for the victims of 9/11 at a memorial outside Jerusalem on September 11, 2017. (Rafi Ben Hakoon) Holding photos and reading names of loved ones lost 16 years ago, 9/11 victims' relatives and others marked the anniversary of the attacks at Ground Zero on Monday with a solemn and personal ceremony. In Israel, an estimated 500 people gathered at the KKL-JNF Jewish National Fund's "Living Memorial" in the Jerusalem Hills at the US Embassy's official memorial ceremony for the attacks of September 11, 2001, which took 2,977 lives, including those of five Israelis. The victims died when hijacked planes slammed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, hurling America into a new consciousness of the threat of global terrorism. Speaking at the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza in the Arazim Valley outside Jerusalem, US ambassador to Israel David Friedman lauded the strong friendship between US and Israel. "Israel and the United States will always stand together and fight for the total defeat of radical Islamic terrorism," Friedman said. "In the 16 years following the disaster in the US, Israel and its allies have strengthened and flourished, while terrorist organizations such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda and Hamas continue to weaken," said Friedman. Israel "mourned for America" in the wake of the attacks, he added, noting that the Jewish state was the only country other than the US to erect a memorial with all of the victims' names. US Ambassador in Israel David Friedman at the 9/11 memorial in Israel on September 11. 2017. (Matty Stern/US Embassy Tel Aviv) Knesset opposition leader Isaac Herzog also attended the ceremony, along with other Israeli officials. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, in Israel on a visit, attended as well. "9/11 was not only an attack on the US, but on democracy and freedom. Israel and the US are bound forever by these basic values," Herzog said. In New York, about a thousand 9/11 family members, survivors, rescuers and officials were gathered as the ceremony at the World Trade Center began with a moment of silence and tolling bells. Then, relatives began reading out the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the deadliest terror attack on American soil. Thousands of 9/11 victims' relatives, survivors, rescuers and others were due on September 11, 2017 to gather at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center to remember the deadliest terror attack on American soil in which nearly 3,000 people died when hijacked planes slammed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pa., on September 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) As they read, some said they couldn't believe 16 years had passed since a tragedy that still seemed, on the anniversary, so present. Some had never even had a chance to meet the relatives they lost. "I wish more than anything that I could have met you," Ruth Daly said, her voice breaking, after she read names in remembrance of her slain grandmother, Ruth Sheila Lapin. "I'm very proud to be your namesake. I hope you're watching down on me from heaven." Others hoped for a return to the unity they sensed after the attacks. Magaly Lemagne, who lost her brother, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officer David Prudencio Lemagne, wept silently before collecting herself to speak. "Our country came together that day. And it did not matter what color you were, or where you were from," she said. "I hope as we commemorate the 16th anniversary of 9/11, everyone will stop for a moment and remember all the people who gave their lives that day. "Maybe then we can put away our disagreements and become one country again." |