Tomorrow is Israel's 50th Independence Day. Today, the country marks a Day of Remembrance for the soldiers who have lost their lives in the wars it has fought down the decades - 18,748 military dead.
But as they remember fallen colleagues, two veteran Israeli soldiers are also keeping a keen watch on the future: Gen Matan Vilnai (54) and Gen Shaul Mofaz (50) are locked in a head-to-head battle for the position of army chief of staff.
The appointment - to be made this week or next by the Defence Minister, Mr Yitzhak Mordechai - could have far-reaching implications not only for the Israeli armed forces, but for the peace process itself. The chief of staff is closely involved in all the security aspects of peace dealings with the Palestinians, including the crucial decisions on which areas in the West Bank are to be relinquished to Mr Yasser Arafat's control.
On the face of it, the Mofaz or Vilnai dilemma should be simplicity itself to resolve - in Gen Vilnai's favour. Gen Vilnai has held his general's rank since 1985 - longer than any of his colleagues. Tall, charismatic, from a proud Israeli family and with an outstanding military record, he was appointed deputy chief of staff four years ago, and it was always assumed that he would succeed the current chief of staff, Gen Amnon Shahak. Except that two years ago, when Mr Netanyahu came to power, and declared an intention to shake-up the cosy, European-origin liberal elites that had dominated the political and military leadership, Gen Vilnai's assured route to the top suddenly began to look less certain. He was perceived in some quarters of the new right-wing government as having been too closely linked to the previous Labour coalition's moderate thinking on peacemaking with the Palestinians.
Worse, he had won the position of deputy chief of staff at the expense of another ambitious general who, piqued at being overlooked, doffed his uniform and entered politics - none other than Mr Mordechai.
Mr Mordechai, say military sources, may not have forgiven Gen Vilnai for beating him to that promotion, and has an understandable soft spot for Gen Mofaz, who, like him, comes from poor Sephardi immigrant roots. Both candidates have their critics, but few claim that Gen Mofaz's appointment would be disastrous. His appointment would, however, represent another slightly worrying signal from the Netanyahu government, reflecting a desire to have a sympathetic, appreciative presence in the most critical position in the Israeli military hierarchy.