As occurs on an annual basis, Israel made a sharp switch this evening from
commemorating its fallen, to celebrations of its 70th Independence Day.
While the declaration of Israel’s independence was officially made on the
15th of May 1948; Israel marks the date annually on the Hebrew calendar
date – the 5th of Iyar – which this year fell on the 19th of April. The
celebrations commenced this evening with a special state ceremony on
Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl, that is still ongoing.
