Israel marked its annual Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of militant attacks on Wednesday.

As sirens rang out in the country, pedestrians stood at attention, traffic came to a standstill as motorists stepped out of their cars, and radio and TV programming was halted.

Throughout the day, people attended ceremonies at military cemeteries, radio stations played somber music and programs were devoted to retelling the stories of soldiers killed in battle. Entertainment venues such as movie theaters and restaurants were closed out of respect.

Ora Zohar is a friend of Moshe Perlstein, a youth leader killed in 1948.

"I think that our struggle to survive in this area is an unending struggle, begun years and decades before the state - in the '20s, in the '30s, in the '40s, we lost young people to violent enemies and I don't see the end in sight, we can just pray and remember."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert presided over the main remembrance ceremony at Mount Herzl, the country's national military cemetery.

The nation's top leaders, including President Shimon Peres and military chief Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, were among those in attendance.

The Israeli Defence Ministry says since 1860, the year Jews first began settling in neighborhoods outside the walls of the Old City, over 22,000 people have been killed in wars and attacks.

The somber day came hours before the country was set to kick off celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of its independence.

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