Israel marks annual Holocaust remembrance day

Israel is marking its annual Holocaust remembrance day, in memory of the sixmillion Jews killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

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Ceremonies are held around the country on the solemn day, which is marked from Wednesday evening.

Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahuattendedthe main ceremony at Jerusalem's YadVashemHolocaust memorial.

Ceremonies were held around the country beginning Wednesday evening, including a main ceremony at Jerusalem's YadVashemHolocaust memorial that Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahuattended.

Israelis came to a mournful, two-minute standstill Thursday morning to remember the dead.

As sirens wailed throughout the country, pedestrians stopped in their tracks and motorists pulled over on highways and roads and stood next to their cars.

Names of those killed were read in a ceremony at Israel's parliament.

March of the Living

In Poland, thousands of people from around the world, many draped in Israeli flags, have paid homage to the victims of the Holocaust with a sombre march from the barracks of Auschwitz to nearbyBirkenau.

Organizersof the March of the Living, held annually on Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, said about 10,000 participated in the event Thursday in southern Poland, occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II.

Among them were about 150 Holocaust survivors, Israel's justice minister,Knessetmembers and people from 42 countries.

As participants arrived at the gates ofBirkenau, some knelt to pray and light candles on the railway tracks that carried Jews, Roma and others from across Europe to their death in gas chambers.Birkenauis where most of the death camp complex's victims were killed.