A NIS 32 million memorial to the estimated 1.5 million Jews who fought with the Allied forces in World War II will be established near the Armored Corp’s museum in Latrun, the cabinet decided on Sunday.
According to the cabinet decision, half of the funds will come from the government, and the other half form private donors. The memorial is to be completed by the end of 2014. Minister Yossi Peled will chair a ministerial team –which will also include Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver– that will oversee implementation of the project.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at Sunday’s cabinet meeting that he  ascribed great importance to the proposed memorial, and to another site in Netanya being built to commemorate the Red Army’s victory over the Nazis.

“Our people were in danger of annihilation and mobilized.  They were ready to sacrifice and indeed sacrificed much.  We will commemorate and remember these people.  It is due to their sacrifice that we are here,” Netanyahu said.