About 1.5 million Israelis – almost 1/5 of the country’s citizens – are expected to visit Israel’s cemeteries Monday, in order to pay respects and remember the nation’s war dead, the IDF Website estimates.

A 2-minute siren sounded at 11:00. This marks the start of formal ceremonies in various state institutions, as well as schools and IDF bases. Two official state-level memorial ceremonies  take place at this time: one at Har Herzl in Jerusalem, attended by the President and Prime Minister, and one at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery near Tel Aviv, attended by the Defense Minister.

52 official memorial ceremonies will take place in the cemeteries from Kiryat Shemona to Eilat. One of these is a ceremony commemorating the Global Victims of Acts of Terror and Anti-Semitism. It will be attended by Jewish Agency head Nathan Sharansky.

The official memorial ceremony for 2,493 victims of acts of terror takes place at Har Herzl at 1:00 p.m.

Ceremonies and special broadcasts will continue until 8:00 p.m., when celebration of Independence Day will begin.