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Sydneysiders David and Karen Knoll donned their Sar-El uniforms in Israel to listen to a speech given by the IDF’s Colonel Eyal Zamir, the Chief of the General Staff.

The address was broadcast in military installations throughout Israel.

David Knoll told J-Wire: “We were honoured to be part of it, as Sar-El volunteers. It was a reminder that what Israel is fighting for is beyond honourable and necessary. We fight for peace; they fight for our destruction.”

In his address, Colonel Zamir said: “Thirty years have passed since Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated.  He was a retired lieutenant colonel and prime minister at the time, commander of the Six-Day War, and a fighter for thirty years during his tenure as defence minister and prime minister. Rabin dedicated his life to the security of the country.

That terrible evening is burned into our consciousness as a reminder of the responsibility we all have – to guard Israeli cohesion and the ability to engage in debate with basic respect and to preserve human dignity and the character of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

In the past two years, the people of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces have proven once again that unity is a condition for the security of our country. On October 7, the terrorist organisation Hamas forced a difficult war upon us, which once again tested our resilience and our ability to stand together until victory.

During the war, you, the soldiers of the IDF and its commanders, stood united in the face of the enemy with strength and determination, with endless commitment and dedication. You fought together, commanders and fighters, officers and soldiers in the regular and reserve ranks, on every front and sector, and you brought unprecedented victories that prevented existential threats to our country.”

In our difficult time, we have become aware once again of the importance of our united spirit – that Israeli spirit that is the foundation of our existence and shapes our common destiny. The IDF is the people’s army – it unites around itself all parts of Israeli society, women and men, members of all religions and sectors, all carrying on their shoulders one mission: to defend the State of Israel.

When we put on our uniforms, we put our differences behind us, stand shoulder to shoulder, and act with a sense of responsibility and shared purpose. We will continue to strengthen the bond between the people and their military, stand guard over our country and its values, and be a beacon of brotherhood and hope for future generations.”

In his Mount Scopus speech after the Six-Day War, Yitzhak Rabin wrote: “The elevation of our warriors did not come through the power of iron, but through the consciousness of a higher mission, recognition of the righteousness of our cause, deep love for the homeland, and recognition of the difficult role assigned to them – to ensure the existence of the nation in its homeland, even if it means the cost of their lives. The right of the people of Israel to live their lives in their state in peace and tranquility, as a free and independent people.” My commanders, unity is the condition for victory: from it grows the strength of our army, and from it derives the security of the state. We will continue to defend, fight, and build – one people, one army, one state.”