Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day; it is being marked in Israel and Jewish diasporas worldwide.

Six torches were lit for the six million Jews who were killed by the Nazis during World War II. Flags around the country were lowered to half staff. Places of entertainment are closed. There are ceremonies at schools and army bases, and radio and TV programs are focusing on the Holocaust.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the Jewish state faces a new threat of annihilation - from Iran.

"The leaders of Iran are rushing to develop nuclear weapons," Mr. Netanyahu said. "They openly declare their intention to destroy the State of Israel."

The prime minister said the world's reaction to the Iranian threat has been weak and is fading.

Mr. Netanyahu did not repeat his country's threats to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. But he said that if Jews have learned anything from the Holocaust, it is that they must not be silent or deterred in the face of evil, VOA News reported.