Israel's Independence Day: Nationwide ceremonies, celebrations
Knesset Speaker emphasizes Israel's commitment to a united Jerusalem in address at Mount Herzl.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Yom Haatzmaut Jerusalem Israel newsIndependence Day celebrations kicked off Monday night in Israel with the lighting of beacons at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, which also marks the conclusion of Memorial Day.
The theme of this year's ceremony, for Israel's 62nd Independence Day, is Herzl's adage "If you will it, it is not a dream."
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin lit the first beacon at the ceremony, and emphasized Israel's commitment to the unity of Jerusalem in his address.
"We will not apologize for building up Jerusalem our capital," Rivlin said during his Independence Day speech, which focused heavily on Jerusalem and on the divisions within the city and its population.
"In an era of cultural openness, we are witnessing a dangerous process of deepening entrenchment of each group behind its four walls. This entrenchment only creates cultural and political polarization.
"Look at what Jerusalem has become in the past decade: separate neighborhoods, separate public transportation, separate shopping malls for Haredim and seculars, Arabs and Jews," he said, referring to this separation as ghettos within the city.
"Our fear of the 'other' across the wall, especially in Jerusalem, whether Arab or ultra-Orthodox, goes against the Zionist spirit," said Rivlin.
"The mentality of concrete and barbed wire; the mentality of enclosure in homogenous neighborhoods, and the mentality of escaping a dialogue with the 'other' is not only destructive to our social and national foundations," said the Knesset speaker, "but also enables the rise of the very voices who today demand the division of Jerusalem."
Rivlin also spoke of Herzl's legacy during his Independence Day address, calling Zionism an act of courage.
"Sixty-two years after the prophecy of [Herzl's] Altneuland was realized, we, the generations of those who established the country, know very well that Israel's salvation did not come from prophets or from diplomats," said Rivlin, "but from those who dared to stop dreaming and start realizing the dream; in the hands of those who stopped waiting for the establishment of Israel and made the dream a reality."
Rivlin continued, "The Zionist act is an act of courage, executed by individuals who take a leap of faith from dreaming to action."
Rivlin concluded by saying that Israel will retian its Zionist character and make no apologies for it.
"Make no mistake, there will be no cooperation with those who demand that we diminish the country's Zionist identity. We will not apologize: not for conquering Katamon, Jaffa or Safed, not for freeing Hebron, and not for building Jerusalem our capital," Rivlin said.
Additional beacons were lit by retired Supreme Court Justice Dalia Dorner, who is president of the Israel Press Council, and Yossi Feldman, director general of the Society for the Preservation of Israel Heritage Sites.
Rabbi Richard Hirsch, the head of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, also lit a beacon, in a move lauded by the Reformed Judaism movement which has struggled to gain acceptance in Israel.
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.
Earlier in the day, at 11 A.M., a two-minute siren sounded throughout the country to mark Memorial Day, followed by ceremonies at Israel's 43 military cemeteries.
On Tuesday, Independence Day, Defense Ministry museums and military bases will be open from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. The Israeli air force will conduct flyovers over cities and other sites across the country. A naval demonstration will be held off the coast.
The annual international Bible competition will be held at 3 P.M. in Jerusalem. Among the contestants this year is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son Avner.
On Tuesday evening, the Israel Prize ceremony will be held in the capital.
During the day Tuesday, Israelis are expected to throng to the country's national parks. The Jewish National Fund will host hikes around the country and activities at the Tel Aviv port. One of the hikes on offer goes from Kibbutz Nirim in the south to the Halutza sands, where new communities are currently being built.
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Israelis celebrating Israel's 62nd Independence Day in Tel Aviv on Monday. |
| Photo by: (Moti Kimche) |
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"Sixty-two years after the prophecy of [Herzl's] Altneuland was realized, we, the generations of those who established the country, know very well that Israel's salvation did not come from prophets or from diplomats," said Rivlin, "but from those who dared to stop dreaming and start realizing the dream; in the hands of those who stopped waiting for the establishment of Israel and made the dream a reality." What a silly, silly thing to say! Herzl was all about diplomacy. Zionism needed equal parts diplomacy and hard work in order to succeed. If not, then why do we still celebrate the Balfour Declaration, the San Remo Conference, the Mandate for Palestine and or United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine) and regard them as Israel’s founding documents? If “[daring] to stop dreaming and start realizing the dream; [...] [not] waiting for the establishment of Israel and made the dream a reality” were enough, then why didn’t we declare our state in 1939, instead of in 1948, when it was too late for 90% of European Jewry? Maybe diplomacy carries a little more weight than Rivlin imagines. In the last few years (and particularly since Netanyahu’s unholy alliance took power) we have begun to realise just what diplomatic isolation can mean for a country such as Israel. Let’s celebrate Israel’s achievements, but let’s not fool ourselves that blood, toil, tears and sweat would have been enough. Without the diplomatic groundwork (Herzl’s “Charter”), it would have all been for nought.
"Nakba Day" of your own creation Instead of accepting your share of the UN Partition Plan, your lot decided to attack Israel instead Foolishly you listened to your leaders, including Amin El Husseini, who told you to leave and that you would return shortly to land that was supposedly to be conquered from the Jewish State, and you have a windfall of Jewish homes and possession that would become yours Those of you who remained are living far better than those who listened and left BOY!! You sure were disappointed
happy Yom HaAtzmaut from Lima, Perú. May God Bless Israel. que Dios siga protegiendo a Israel y 1000 años mas para ERETZ YISRAEL, 1000 more years to our land. peace-shalom-salaam-paz cheers from a jew from Peru, grandson of morrocan jews who lives in this beautiful land, who can't speak english or hebrew fluently but enought to say I LOVE YOU ISRAEL!!!!!! KAUSACHUM ISRAIL!! (quechua) VIVA ISRAEL!! (spanish)
every country get it independence from another country. here in Peru we got our independence from the invasors the spaniards.... Israel got its independece almost 2000 years after our land were invaded happy yom haatzmaut!!!
Happy birthday Israel. I was there when you were little more than a desert and today you are a paradise oasis. Achieving great strides in architecture, science, arts, Medicine, and so much more. Your incredible struggle against terror and extremism is inspiring. God bless the state of Israel. The people of the United states stand behind you.
happy birthday Israel, happy Yom HaAtzmaut!! 1000 more years to Israel! blessing from a jew from peru who can't speak english nor hebrew very well, but enought to say how much I love you!! AM YISRAEL CHAI KAUSACHUM ISRAIL (quechua) VIVA ISRAEL (español)
Our hearts are with Israel for your 62nd birthday. May this year finally bring peace and prosperity to you.
"And What country did Israel got their independence from?" From the whole world,on whom the Jews were dependant for their survival for some 2000 years,Mr."peace"... Does that answer your question?
Happy Birthday, Israel...! Antoine GED
God bless Israel and may she be the blessed light of hope in that region that she is destined to be. God bless your country... your beautiful country.
Freedom!
Happy Independence Day Dear Israelis and Jewish people across the World!!!!
where the Jewish people independent before the creaton of Israel?- the answer is no. Are they now? - the answer is yes. Does that answer your question
And What country did Israel got their independence from?
Yes, we wish Israel well, but we all also wish Israel to be a little less rigid and a little more tolerant and a whole lot more gentle towards its Palestinian underclass. Please, we all know the outlines of a final peace settlement (forgive the use of that offensive word "settlement"--which has two meanings). Here are the outlines: Israel recedes to the so-called "67 borders", Israel is nevertheless allowed to retain some settlements in the West Bank that its successful policy of theft known as "facts on the ground" made impossible to reverse, Israel must trade comparable land to that which it stole in order to fairly compensate the Palestinians, the Palestinians must abandon their claim to a right of return and accept monetary compensation instead, the City of Jerusalem must be divided along natural ethnic lines (before Israeli policy alters them too much) between East jerusalem for the Palestinians and West Jerusalem for Israel, and away to secure military peace.
Happy Birthday to a very special country. A country which nourishes mankind. A country. I made Aliyah to, and which freed me from my european jewish paranoia, only to find out that I start looking for another one. Israel, you are crazy, and I love you. Mazal Tov, ad 120.
Chag Samiach - Happy Birthday Israel - long may your flag wave over an undivided Israeli capital of Yerushaliam
russia would be happy to receive israeli technology.the result may well be cheaper aircraft. our enemies in the middle east can be beaten with less advanced aircraft if necessary.
our exports were 44 billion dollars.we can pay for the fighter aircraft we buy from america.and pay cash. citizens of israel let us tell obama a huge and emphatic and resounding "no"we do not want your money
independence from whom?palestinians !!1
The ghosts are lurking in the shadows, beyond the light of your fireworks... don't you hear them when you lie in bed at night? They're the 750,000 Palestinians expelled during "independence", during the Nakba. Independence will only be meaningful when the Nakba is acknowledged, and restitution given.
Dear Israel i am happy that you were reborn. i hope you live and prosper many many years.
may you live thousands of years. i love you
Jewish celebrations. But they wull take place in far less happy terms. Better get used to Palestinians celebrating their independence --so join in --be happy. Well , is that not what you wanted them to do.
i salute the brave men and women who fight for our pride and existence.
6 major wars with many "skirmishes", no clear boarders, inequality, war crimes, 50/50 demographics,and no clear goals. doomed. The Holy Land belongs to the Semites(Arabs and True Jews)
Palestinian Indepence Day too. Enough is Enough!
Enough is Enough!
Here is to 62 awesome years and the next 62 with a strong unified Israel with our eternal capitol.. Jerusalem the City of Gold.
our ancestors must envy us and our future generations that we have witnessed the miracle they of which they could only dream!
Be strong my wonderful country!
and Many more
is still dependent on us and quite incapable of standing on it's own two feet, yet they are as arrogant as ever.
and a theocratic apartheid state that belongs to the dark ages. it was a sad day 62 yeras ago, and a beginning of bloodshed and human injustice and suffering that did not stop till this moment.
our ultimate wish for you is to destroy your enemies, especially Iran & co, live in peace and prosperity,, Best wishes!
Happy Bday Israel! Happy Bday Jerusalem! I'm a born-mexican jew, living now in the land of Israel and I can say that day by day I learn how to love more, cause this land is made of love! More than ever I'm proud to be israeli and very proud to be jewish as well! G'd bless u Israel!! I will always stand by ur side!!
"The mentality of concrete and barbed wire; the mentality of enclosure in homogenous neighborhoods, and the mentality of escaping a dialogue with the 'other' is not only destructive to our social and national foundations," said the Knesset speaker, "but also enables the rise of the very voices who today demand the division of Jerusalem." And here I thought he was talking about the illegal settlements on the stolen land.
And many more!
Some united city, when gangs of thugs can push people out of their homes where they have lived for 62 years! This is a government that is so removed from reality that they mouth these phrases that mean nothing. Nothing Israel has done since 1967 equals the evil of its occupation. That is what should be remembered as they shoot off fire works.
And long life to State of Israel and strong IDF.
"If you will it, it is no dream" - Walter Sobzchak "The Big Lebowski"
Herzl's adage "If you will it, it is not a dream." Im tirtzu ein zoh aggada - yes, what a desecration of Herzl's name for this adage to have been approriated by the current McCarthyite Im Tirtzy organization !! David
could my ancestors have believed my mazal and that of our future generations?
.. it becomes everybody elses nightmare