Israel pays respects to its fallen soldiers on Memorial Day

Israelis halted their cars on the streets and stepped aside with bowed heads to pay respects to those who laid their lives to protect the country.

Some 1.5 million Israelis are expected to visit cemeteries to pay their respects at the graves of fallen soldiers and others killed in Israel's wars and terror attacks.

Israel Police said that road closures and increased traffic are likely to surround the country's 52 military cemeteries and hundreds of smaller military sections in civilian cemeteries nationwide to accommodate the visitors.

A total of 23,646 men and women have died while serving in the security services of Israel and the pre-state Jewish community since 1860 when the first Jewish neighbourhood was established outside Jerusalem's Old City walls, official statistics said.

Seventy one new names were added to the list over the last year among those who died defending the country. Thirty of those were disabled veterans who passed away due to complications from injuries sustained during their service. The total tally also includes active soldiers who died in car accidents and other causes off the battlefield.