The state memorial ceremony honoring the Ethiopian Jews who died on their way to Israel was held on Sunday, May 17, 2015 on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Following are excerpts from remarks by President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

President Reuven Rivlin: "For thousands of years Ethiopian Jews lived with the concept of Jerusalem, Yerus-Alam, in their hearts, eager to immigrate to Israel, yearning to be in Zion from a distance. In the early '80s, and not for the first time, Ethiopian Jews marched for months under the scorching sun and the darkness of the night toward Jerusalem. They walked without much sleep, without food, hundreds of miles away. More than 4,000 died on the way. The immigration story of Ethiopian Jews to Israel is a story about faith and hope, about the determined Ethiopian Jewish leaders who were courageous and did not give up. This is also a story that reveals Israel's disgrace in locking the doors to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world for many years...

In recent weeks we have all seen and heard the cries and pain of Israelis of Ethiopian origin. The protesters uncovered an open wound, alive and bleeding within Israeli society... We heard a wounded community who voiced their heartfelt cries of feelings of discrimination, racism, insult and lack of response. In a complicated and diverse society such as ours, creating a reality in which people are judged according to their abilities and capabilities alone is essential in order to create hope. Only when we can offer young people who live here, whether they are Ethiopian or members of any other community or faith, a genuine future and equal opportunities, not only in defense but in business, politics, academia, science and the media, can we live a better life here, one that is more rich, a life of partnership and of mutual respect...

We have to act, together to make a change, to create a better and more equal reality. We have a challenge set before us, to build a society that does not turn a blind eye, but vomits and rejects out rightly racism, discrimination and hatred. The responsibility for repairing society lies with each and every one of us: the government, the justice system and law enforcement, leaders from the private and public sectors and from civil society, each and every one of us. We stand here today ahead of these moments, and I share this mission with you."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "In Jerusalem we remember those who died during the journey. You turned towards Jerusalem; in Jerusalem your redemption came; in Jerusalem we heard your cry. The entire people heard it. I heard it.

Roughly two weeks ago, I met with several of you. It was a moving meeting, and if I may say so, one that shook me to my core. I heard complaints of racism, discrimination, deprivation, excessive force. You told me of your fear to walk in the streets because of the color of your skin. I cannot accept this, not in our country, not in the Jewish state.

This week, I will establish a special ministerial committee, under my leadership, to address all these issues and many others. We will present a comprehensive plan to the government to assist you along the way. But beyond the program, and other programs and resources and projects, there is one clear principle - there is no room for racism and discrimination in our society. None. We will fight with all our strength against these unacceptable practices. We will simply uproot them from our lives. We will turn them into something looked down upon, something contemptible.

There are societies which succeeded in rising above this morass. We brought human dignity to civilization - we, the Jews - and we will ensure that human dignity will find expression in our one and only state.

My brothers and sisters of Ethiopian descent, you are Israelis in the full sense of the word, flesh of our flesh, equals among equals, and you embody your stories, which exalt the vision of the ingathering of the exiles, which is the essence of our existence and our rebirth and our prayers. Today, we remember all you experienced to realize this vision, to reach Land of Zion and Jerusalem... On the way, you ran into every possible difficulty: hunger and thirst, disease and death, imprisonment and torture, attacks by bandits...

My friends, the journey of your immigration is over, but it is important to me that every boy and girl in Israel will know your stories. I instructed the Ministry of Education to imbue this story with all the glory and majesty and pain in our schools because I believe it is part of bringing people together and instilling the shared fate of our people.

Alongside the difficulties, you can be proud of the stories of the pioneers: in politics, academia, education, medicine, the military and military medicine. I just welcomed back the delegation that was in Nepal, and there was a doctor there, a lieutenant colonel of Ethiopian descent - what pride. An Israeli delegation, the largest delegation in terms of number, or the second largest - I believe India's was larger - went to save lives, also of Israelis of course as all Israel is responsible for one another, but also of people, of human beings, and a senior doctor was a lieutenant colonel of Ethiopian descent - in the military and in medicine. What pride.

But unfortunately this integration also has a heavy cost. Soldiers and officers of Ethiopian descent serve in the IDF, defending the State of Israel, and sometimes they fall in battle. This happened just recently during Operation Protective Edge, and this of course is our shared destiny. This is the price Israel pays to safeguard its security, and this cost is shared by our sons and daughters from all parts of the nation.

Brothers and sisters, in order to realize your dream to be with us here, you paid the heaviest price and you made great sacrifices. You remember the past and preserve your community's heritage, while at the same time you look to the future - to successful integration into Israeli society. We are always by your side; we are always with you.

Here in Jerusalem, which is described by our forefathers as a city which makes all Israel friends, shine rays of optimism and hope. You have arrived home. We will cherish the memory of your loved ones who did not make it, and God willing, we will see the good of Jerusalem always."