Most of the participants in the VE Day parade were immigrants from the former Soviet Union, as the parade is a tradition originating in Russia, where tanks rumble through the streets on, crossing Moscow's Red Square on VE Day each year. Jewish partisans, wounded soldiers from the war against the Nazis, underground fighters, volunteers from the Yishuv who fought in the British forces and veterans of the Jewish Brigade also participated in the event.
Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver and opposition leader Tzipi Livni marched with the veterans. Following the event, Livni posted a photograph of herself standing with the veterans and wrote a message of support. "Today I attended the Jerusalem march not only as Opposition Leader but on behalf of the entire people of Israel, to tell them thank you," she wrote. "We know the struggle for the existence of Israel did not begin in 1948, but much before ... You and they were partners in this struggle."On Wednesday afternoon, a ceremony will be held in Yad Vashem in honor of the Allied victory. Defense Minister Ehud Barak is expected to participate.