Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., May 11, 2008 Iyyar 6, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:12 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

News in Brief Israel's creation was one of the "greatest achievements" of the 20th century, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told a London synagogue on Monday at an event marking the state's 60th anniversary. Numerous other world leaders also congratulated Israel on its anniversary this week. "In its 60 years as an independent state, Israel has had to contend with many challenges," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, speaking on behalf of the European Union, yesterday. "Yet through it all it has continued to adapt, develop and prosper. We now take almost for granted impressive Israeli achievements in fields such as science and technology, industry, agriculture, education and the arts." (DPA and Haaretz Staff) Thousands attended Wednesday's ceremony on Mount Herzl in memory of Israel's victims of terror attacks. The National Insurance Institute unveiled a computerized station at the site with links to the stories of 3,933 residents of Israel killed by terrorists since the days of the First Aliyah. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at the ceremony that the conflict with the Palestinians "is by no means unresolvable, despite all the difficulties and baggage. The principles for its resolution, I guarantee it, are not beyond reach." Olmert justified Israel's refusal to talk with Hamas so long as it does not renounce terror. (Ruth Sinai and Yair Ettinger) Advertisement A licensed rally Thursday near Nazareth attended by thousands to mark the Palestinian Nakba Day ended in violence when hundreds blocked a Highway 70 intersection - where a group of rightists was holding a counter-demonstration - and began stoning cars. Police were ordered to use force to reopen the road. Six demonstrators were arrested, and nearly a dozen people were lightly injured in the melee, including five police officers and two Israeli Arab Knesset members, Wasel Taha and Mohammed Barakeh. (Yoav Stern and Eli Ashkenazi) A million Israelis visited Jewish National Fund forests yesterday, leaving behind some 250 tons of garbage. Prominent among the picnickers was the portable barbecue (mangal in Hebrew). Almost half of the visitors spent the day at forests in northern Israel, while the majority went to forests in the center of the country (100,000 at Ben Shemen alone) and in the Jerusalem hills. Nature reserves and national parks hosted some 75,000 people, and another 150,000 people visited open nature spots. (Zafrir Rinat) The number of people who flew overseas on the eve of Memorial Day and Independence Day this year was double that of last year, according to internal data gathered by the Israel Airports Authority. Yesterday 22,330 people departed Israel from Ben-Gurion International Airport, compared to 9,514 last year. On Wednesday there were 15,968 departures, up from 8,941 on Memorial Day last year. (Zohar Blumnekrantz) The winner yesterday of the 45th International Bible Quiz for Jewish Youth is Tzurit Berenson, 15, from Nahariya. Sixty-five contestants from 37 countries took part. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert presented the award to Berenson, who was wearing an orange bracelet as a symbol of her solidarity with Gush Katif evacuees. Her uncle and another relative previously won the contest. This year's runners-up were Elad Finish, from Be'er Sheva, and Dov Mordechai Nadal from the United States. (Nadav Shragai) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Siniora vs. Hezbollah The Lebanon prime minister accuses Hezbollah of staging a coup. Plant down - again Palestinians say tha Gaza power plant has closed due to a fuel shortage.

Read & React Hezbollah fighters start withdrawing from Beirut Responses: 601 British PM: Israel`s creation one of 20th century`s `greatest achievements` Responses: 328 Ahmadinejad: Israel is a 'stinking corpse' doomed to disappear Responses: 350 Key witness 'fears Olmert may seek to harm him' Responses: 96 Jews bend over backward to stay neutral in U.S. vote Responses: 127 Jerome Segal: Through tough love, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be ended Responses: 141 More Headlines 01:57 Hezbollah claims victory as Lebanon gov't U-turns 02:09 ANALYSIS: Clashes in Lebanon have yet to affect Israel 22:48 Olmert to appeal move to hear early testimony from key state witness 22:16 21 Qassams hit the Negev on Saturday, lightly hurting five 22:30 Palestinians: Gaza power plant closes due to fuel shortage 01:16 Jewish Republicans are jockeying to win McCain's favor 01:06 ANALYSIS: Hezbollah, Lebanon gov't are boxers girding for next round 22:24 Rabbi testifies in support of Hamas-linked imam facing U.S. ban 14:01 Palestinians: Gaza-Egypt border opens temporarily 07:32 ANALYSIS / Olmert probe shows the media really is the message Previous Editions Select Day 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr

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