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Spectators watching an air show over the Tel Aviv beachfront on Thursday during celebrations for Israel's 60th Independence Day. (AP)
Last update - 18:31 08/05/2008
Thousands take to streets and parks as Israel celebrates 60 years of statehood
By Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: Israel, Independence Day 

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets and parks across the country Thursday for barbecues, displays and parades in observance of the 60th independence day celebrations.

The festivities include showcases from the IDF, with the IDF orchestra joining 12 other military parades for a parade in Haifa, the Israel Navy holding a display along the Herzliya and Tel Aviv coasts and skydiving exhibitions by the Air Force.
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The air show along Tel Aviv's Jerusalem beach were marred when a skydiver mistakenly parachuted into the stands where spectators were seated. Eight people were injured - three seriously and five lightly - when a on Thursday. The paratrooper and another spectator were evacuated to hospital in serious condition.

The celebrations to mark the event kicked off on Wednesday night with an official ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem - named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionist movement. Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik officially launched the one-hour ceremony with a speech in which she praised Israel's achievements over the last six decades.

Israel declared statehood on May 14, 1948, a day before the expiry of Britain's United Nations-mandate over historic Palestine. It traditionally celebrates Independence Day according to the Jewish calendar, which this year falls almost a week before May 14.

Overseen by Itzik, members of the Israeli security forces raised the national flag from half to full mast, marking the end of Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims and the beginning of Independence Day.

"The State of Israel is an unusual success story, a wonder by any historical standard," Itzik said. "We had no miracles," she went on to say, "We built this splendid achievement with our own hands. There is no other country in the world like the State of Israel."

Itzik also reached out to Arab leaders, saying "we seek peace and we desire peace for your children as well, but beware - our children know very well the art of war if it is required."

At the start of her speech, Itzik expressed her sympathy for the bereaved families of Israel's fallen soldiers, saying "at this time only a few people are left to hug the gravestones at the military cemeteries. Millions of citizens owe them their endless gratitude. We will never be able to repay our debt to them."

Itzik also warned Israelis themselves over negative trends within their own society, saying "we are aware of grave phenomenon of violence in our society. It is not our wars with our enemies that will break us, but rather we, with our own hands, are capable of dragging ourselves down to places in which we don't want to be."

Twelve adults, accompanied by 12 children representing the future generation of Israel, then lit twelve torches to honor the anniversary.

The official ceremony was followed by dozens of fireworks displays and outdoor celebrations throughout the country. Throughout the evening and night, hundreds of thousands attended performances by local artists and musicians on outdoor stages erected on central squares across Israel. Laser and light shows were also held in major cities. In Tel Aviv, Rabin Square, named for slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, was filled with thousands for music, dancing and parties.

On Wednesday during the day, the Air Force held displays off the country's Mediterranean shores, while dozens of naval vessels sailed from the port city of Haifa in the north to that of Ashdod in the south. Israelis also flocked to nature reserves and museums, which are open to the public for free in celebration of the occasion.

The police raised their alert to the second-highest level, amid warnings that Arab militants might try to mar the festivities with a major attack.

Thousands of police, including special units, secured the events. Roadblocks were set up at city entrances and beefed up forces patrolled the border with the West Bank and Gaza, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

NASA astronaut Garrett Reisman, the first Jewish crew member on the International Space Station, on Wednesday sent a greeting from space to the people of Israel.

"Every time the Station flies over the State of Israel, I try to find a window, and it never fails to move me when I see the familiar outline of Israel coming toward us from over the horizon," he said.

On Wednesday night Israel time, Jewish communities around the world joined Israelis to sing Hatikva, the Israeli national anthem, in an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people singing a national anthem at the same time.

In an interview to mark the occasion, President Shimon Peres marveled at his country's famous advancements in science and technology.

"We are small in size, small in numbers, so we cannot become a big market or a big industry," Peres said. "But Israel can become a daring laboratory."

Peres is to host a conference in Jerusalem next week to mark the anniversary, which will be attended by U.S. President George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, Mikhail Gorbachev, Rupert Murdoch and Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

In Israel's early days, Peres worked for the country's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. He went on to become prime minister three times, in addition to winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Now he spends time promoting Israel as a green country and a high-tech powerhouse - including a government plan to install the world's first electric car network here by 2011, with recharging stations all over the country.
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  1.   Am Yisrael Chai, Od...We live inspite of everything! 20:15  |  bat yam 07/05/08
  2.   HAYOM YOM HULEDET 20:15  |  David Brook 07/05/08
  3.   Happy birthday Israel! 20:29  |  Systemf 07/05/08
  4.   Congratulations! 20:50  |  Dik 07/05/08
  5.   Congratulations! 20:57  |  Joey 07/05/08
  6.   To all Israelis 21:09  |  Sigurveig 07/05/08
  7.   Happy Birthday Israel!!! 21:16  |  Hannah 07/05/08
  8.   Only 60 21:26  |  Peter 07/05/08
  9.   Happy Birthday Israel! 21:31  |  Mike 07/05/08
  10.   Happy Birthday 21:32  |  Joe 07/05/08
  11.   Congratulations from Boston! 21:38  |  Matthew 07/05/08
  12.   Congratulations from Belgrade, Serbia 21:52  |  milos 07/05/08
  13.   Sad Day for Humanity 21:55  |  wibism 07/05/08
  14.   mazal tov!!!! 22:29  |  Iranian jew 07/05/08
  15.   Congratulations, Israel (from Spain) 22:29  |  KUTW 07/05/08
  16.   Israel then and now (video) 22:34  |  KUTW 07/05/08
  17.   All the best 22:41  |  Angel 07/05/08
  18.   Congratulations on reaching 60 22:48  |  Steven 07/05/08
  19.   Congratulations (from Bulgaria) 23:05  |  Plamen 07/05/08
  20.   Happy 60th, my beloved country 23:23  |  Linichka 07/05/08
  21.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL! FROM USA WITH LOVE & PRIDE 23:24  |  Rachel 07/05/08
  22.   Happy birthday to you and to me Israel same year same day 23:29  |  What a feeling 07/05/08
  23.   l`chayim! 23:34  |  scallywag 07/05/08
  24.   LONG LIFE TO ISRAEL!!!!!! 23:35  |  DIMITAR 07/05/08
  25.   The best Country ever visited !!! 23:40  |  Romanian Emil 07/05/08
  26.   The flag is flying today! 23:43  |  Steve G 07/05/08
  27.   Mazal Tov !!! (From Luanda-Angola) 23:45  |  Vasy 07/05/08
  28.   Long live Israel! Am Israel chai! 23:58  |  jean-paul walshaw 07/05/08
  29.   Happy Independence Day 23:58  |  Briton 07/05/08
  30.   Happy Birthday Israel @60 !! With Love and Pride 23:59  |  Arie 07/05/08
  31.   wibism #13 00:16  |  yossel 08/05/08
  32.   Wibism 00:17  |  marbpl 08/05/08
  33.   Happy birthday, Israel 00:22  |  Raeefa 08/05/08
  34.   IAF is to perform off the shores of Tel Aviv and elsewhere... 00:45  |  Maureen Ann 08/05/08
  35.   not your land 00:50  |  sam 08/05/08
  36.   PALESTINE DIED 60 YEARS AGO 01:14  |  ALI 08/05/08
  37.   Happy Birthday From The Sierra-Nevada Foothills! 01:19  |  Jeff Northridge 08/05/08
  38.   Thank G-d the jews are in Israel 01:44  |  sam 08/05/08
  39.   60 years of human rights violation! 01:51  |  Moise 08/05/08
  40.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISRAEL!! LOVE FROM BRAZIL!! 01:56  |  Geraldo 08/05/08
  41.   Mazel Tov! 02:19  |  Paul 08/05/08
  42.   Happy Birthday Israel!!! From Orlando, FL with Love 02:44  |  Virginia 08/05/08
  43.   help us against hizbolla 02:54  |  Mohammad 08/05/08
  44.   HaMoledet 03:05  |  Johnny Weintraub 08/05/08
  45.   Congratulation Israel!! 03:05  |  Scot 08/05/08
  46.   To: "What a feeling" 03:18  |  Rozz 08/05/08
  47.   CONGRATULATIONS ISRAEL!! 03:37  |  Nechama 08/05/08
  48.   Beyond extraordinary 03:48  |  Brian 08/05/08
  49.   Happy 60th Birthday - from Los Angeles 03:48  |  Mali 08/05/08
  50.   Congratulations to all israelis 04:00  |  kevin 08/05/08
  51.   Happy Birthday From Iran 05:32  |  Soleiman Hassnpour 08/05/08
  52.   Mazel Tov! 05:56  |  Meyer 08/05/08
  53.   Israel ...Success.....No... 05:57  |  ali 08/05/08
  54.   Mazel Tov, Felicidades! 06:44  |  Mark 08/05/08
  55.   Happy Birthday Israel Forever 06:56  |  Patrick Moses 08/05/08
  56.   Sinkable Israel 1 06:57  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
  57.   Sinkable Israel 06:59  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
  58.   Sinkable Israel 3 07:05  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
  59.   Israel Forever 07:11  |  Helena 08/05/08
  60.   Sinkable Israel 07:13  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
  61.   Sinkable Israel 5 07:18  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
  62.   Happy Birthday Israel!!! Maureen Ann`s Best Wishes! 07:20  |  Craig 08/05/08
  63.   Mazal Tov 07:26  |  KJJ 08/05/08
  64.   Sinkable Israel 07:34  |  Ayman El-Amir 08/05/08
  65.   Joyeux Anniversaire Israel 07:49  |  Frederique 08/05/08
  66.   Happy 60th Anniversary Israel 07:51  |  David Schwartz 08/05/08
  67.   Sheng Ri Kuai Le, Israel !!! 08:02  |  CK Tan 08/05/08
  68.   NOT YOUR STATE 08:12  |  TONY 08/05/08
  69.   Ayman El-Amir1 08:13  |  Ehud 08/05/08
  70.   Ayman El-Amir2