Israelis have been remembering the six million Jews killed by the Nazis in World War Two.

At 10 am local time this morning, the whole of Israel came to a standstill for two minutes as sirens pierced the air in memory of the victims. It was followed by an official wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. Restaurants, bars and other public places in Israel are closed for the day as a mark of respect. Israel’s remembrance this year coincides with a UN conference against racism in Geneva, which has been overshadowed by the Iranian president’s attacks against the Jewish state. The conference has been boycotted by a number of countries including Israel and the United States. On Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Switzerland’s president for meeting his Iranian counterpart ahead of the conference and vowed never to allow Holocaust deniers to carry out another Holocaust against the Jewish people.More about: Anniversary, Israel, Religion

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