Israel Holds State Funeral for Theodor Herzl’s Grandparents on Mount Herzl

A state funeral ceremony was held on Wednesday at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem for Shimon (Leib) and Rivka Herzl, the grandparents of Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionist movement and the State of Israel. The event was attended by President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu, World Zionist Organization Chairman Yaakov Hagoel, members of the organization's leadership, and senior Israeli officials. Also present were members of Israel’s founding generation and Herzl’s family.

During the ceremony, President Herzog emphasized the importance of diplomacy alongside military achievements, stating, "After every victory and military achievement, the work of diplomacy and statesmanship must follow." He stressed the need to ensure Israel’s security while recognizing that "there is no complete victory without the political effort at its conclusion." Addressing the ongoing election period, Herzog remarked, "Elections are not a civil war." He also expressed sorrow for Israelis emigrating abroad, saying, "My heart aches for every individual, couple, or family leaving for another place, we have no other place."