Israel Raises Nation's Tallest Flag in Ceremony Honoring Fallen Soldier Yehuda Katz

On Tuesday evening, Israel's largest flag was raised on a 61-meter-high flagpole near the 5th Brigade Soldiers' Memorial in Nitzanei Oz, central Israel. The flagpole, the tallest in the country, was installed through a two-year engineering project led by the "Otef Israel" association and the Lev HaSharon Regional Council. It is illuminated at night and visible from major traffic routes, intended as a prominent landmark in the region.

The ceremony was attended by President Isaac Herzog, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky, Lev HaSharon Council Head Eli Aton, "Otef Israel" CEO Yoav Lazar, bereaved families, local leaders, and public figures. President Herzog highlighted the significance of the flag and the timing of the event, referencing Theodor Herzl's vision and the recent return of Yehuda Katz's remains. Katz, an IDF soldier missing since the Battle of Sultan Yaakov, was repatriated after 44 years. Herzog emphasized the sacred commitment to bring all soldiers home and described the flag as a symbol of Israel's eternity and unity.

Eli Aton stated the flag commemorates IDF fallen and victims of the October 7 attacks, symbolizing resilience and hope. He called the flag a "beacon of hope and promise," affirming that as long as the blue-and-white flag flies, Israel's future remains strong and secure.