Israel celebrates 60th anniversary 

Israel celebrated its 60th anniversary Thursday (8th) with a series of state events.  President Shimon Peres hosted a reception for IDF generals past and present and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi presented certificates to 120 outstanding soldiers.  Peres later hosted a gathering of foreign diplomats at the president’s residence in Jerusalem. 

The Israeli Air Force held festive flyovers across the country and the IDF opened up military bases to the public.  Thursday afternoon (8th), the International Bible Quiz took place, and the day ended with the awarding of the Israel Prizes at the Jerusalem Theater. 

More than one million Israelis flooded the nation’s parks Thursday (8th) for hiking and picnics according to the Jewish National Fund.  Half a million visited parks in the Central District, approximately 400,000 visited parks in the north, and 100,000 visited parks near Jerusalem. 

Celebrations for Independence Day began Wednesday night (7th) with the traditional torch-lighting ceremony and fireworks on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, and “sound –and-light shows” in nine cities.  Hundreds of thousands of people crowded in downtown Jerusalem for the “Light up the Skies Show.” 

(REKA News, 5/9) 
 

Canadian Prime Minister condemns criticism of Israel – Mike De Souza 

Some of the criticism in Canada against the State of Israel is similar to the attitude of Nazi Germany in the Second World War, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned Thursday (8th). 

“What I see happening in some circles is anti-Israel sentiment, really just as a thinly disguised veil for good old-fashioned anti-Semitism, which I think is completely unacceptable,” Harper said in an interview. 

“We learned in the Second World War that those who would hate and destroy the Jewish people would ultimately hate and destroy the rest of us as well - the same holds for today.” 

(Ottawa Citizen – Canada, 5/9) 
 

Brown: Israel one of the ‘greatest achievements’ of the 20th century 

The State of Israel is one of the “greatest achievements” of the 20th century, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday night (8th).  Speaking at Finchley Synagogue, Brown said that Israel has faced “immense threats” since its creation.  He called for a future where the “Children of Abraham” would live together in peace as part of the same extended family. 

“Let us all stand ready to help Israel find a truly secure place in a peaceful Middle East.  Let us celebrate a nation that can triumph over attempts at isolation, threats of war, and threats of terrorism and emerge even stronger,” Brown added. 

(JP, 5/9) 
 

Poll: Most influential Israeli builders 

Rabbi Abraham Issac Kook was voted most influential in building the State of Israel a poll found recently.  The religious Zionist leader, who served as the Ashkenazi chief rabbi before the Jewish state was even established, topped a survey that asked Israelis to rank Jewish leaders according to their contribution to the state. 

David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, was second in the Ynet-Gesher Society Poll conducted for Israel’s 60th birthday.  The Lubavitcher rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and Zionism founder Theodor Herzl came in third and fourth. 

The telephone survey contacted thousands of adult Jewish Hebrew-speaking Israelis.  No margin of error was provided. 

(Ynet-Gesher Society Poll, 5/9) 
 

Medvedev sends Israel birthday greetings 

New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Israel on its 60th birthday this week.  In a message Thursday (8th) to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and President Shimon Peres, Medvedev noted that Russia was one of the first countries to recognize Israel’s independence 60 years ago. 

“Over the years, Israel has not only achieved serious political results, but has also demonstrated advanced economic, scientific and cultural achievements,” Medvedev said in the statement in his second day on the job as president. 

(JTA, 5/9) 

Italy honors Israel in Turin Book Fair amid howling protests from Muslims 

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano opened the prestigious Turin Book Fair Thursday (8th) amid opposition from Muslims and the Italian Left over the choice of Israel as the event’s guest of honor. 

“No dialogue is possible if there is a refusal to recognize Israel,” Napolitano said at Israel’s stand at the fair, the European Jewish Press reported.  Napolitano added that there can be no “rejection of the reasons for Israel’s birth or of its right to exist in peace and security.” 

Like the Paris Book Fair in March, the Turin fair is honoring the modern state of Israel on the 60th anniversary of its creation. 

(European Jewish Press, 5/9) 
 

Israel Should be the Plaintiff, not the Defendant, in Court of Public Opinion – Barbara Kay 

It is not about land.  Israel is a hangnail-sized piece of land with no oil and no resources other than those produced by the sweat and brains of its inhabitants.  Surrounding this minuscule plot, demonstrably the Jews’ ancient homeland, are 22 Arab countries covering a tenth of the world’s land mass, 640 times more land than Israel occupies.  It is about Arabs’ intolerance for any other people in their midst, particularly Jews.  Instead of defending Israel’s right to exist, the court of opinion should be prosecuting the Arabs’ crime of relentless hate-speech, and incitement to violence. 

(National Post, Canada, 5/9) 
 

Car of Bedouin woman who lit Independence Day torch set on fire 

Sana Elbaz, a Bedouin woman who lit a celebratory torch at Israel’s 60th anniversary ceremony in Jerusalem, saw her car set ablaze by unknown persons outside of her house on Thursday (8th).  A Molotov cocktail was also thrown at her door.   

Elbaz heads a unique daycare center and was responsible for a revolutionary educational program in Bedouin society. 

(Ynet, 5/9) 
 

Shiite gunmen seize control of Beirut neighborhoods 

Shiite opposition gunmen seized control of several Beirut neighborhoods from Sunni foes loyal to the U.S.-backed government on Friday (9th), in street battles that left 11 dead, security officials said.  The TV station of top Sunni politician Saad Hariri’s Future Movement was forced off the air, and the offices of the affiliated al-Mustaqbal newspaper were set ablaze.  Shite gunmen roamed unopposed through the deserted streets of neighborhoods once dominated by supporters of Hariri and the government.  Dozens of cars and shops had been damaged by the fighting. 

About 100 Hizbullah gunmen in camouflage uniforms and black flak jackets marched down the Muslim sector’s main commercial Hamra Street..  Dozens of fighters from the Syrian Social Nationalist party, a Hizbullah ally, also appeared in the streets off Hamra, some masked and carrying rocket-propelled grenade launchers.  The army has largely avoided getting involved in the street battles. 

(AP/International Herald Tribune, 5/9) 
 

Palestinian rocket fire at Israel continues 

Palestinians in Gaza fired four rockets at Israel on Thursday afternoon (8th) and evening.  One landed south of Ashkelon.  On Friday morning (9th) a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza landed in Israel’s Eshkol region with no damages reported. 

(JP, Ynet, 5/9)