Independence Day starts tonight in Israel. And before you think that Israelis actually believe that we were victorious over aliens in a battle for the Earth’s survival, Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut in Hebrew) is the day we celebrate the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948. Actually, the English date was May 16th, 1948. But here in Israel, we celebrate our holidays according to the Hebrew calendar.
Independence Day falls immediately after Memorial Day, meaning that we celebrate the establishment of the State right after we commemorate those who died fighting for it.
On Independence Day, there are all sorts of parties and parades in Israel (as well as celebrations in Jewish communities around the world). Israeli flags adorn homes, cars and street poles. Small children run around with balloons or plastic hammers, their faces painted white blue and white.
As an ex-pat Australian, one of my favorite aspects of Independence Day is the BBQ – this year, we have been invited to four of them! And now for some links associated with this day of great happiness for Israel:
How Do You Spell Treachery?
Some elected members of the Knesset have other ways of spending the day:
MK Wasil Taha (Balad) said “On Independence Day, I observe the [Palestinian] Day of Disaster”, he said. “Your Independence Day is a day of tragedy for the Palestinian people. On this day I remember what was done to my people, and what happened to my relatives who are spread out among refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon, and what happened to my family that was exiled in 1948”.
Where else in the world would a country tolerate an elected official bemoaning the establishment of the very country that he is supposed to be serving?
History Lesson
Want to know what was “done” to his people? Read this.
Here is a brief history of the lead-up to the establishment of the modern State of Israel.
And here are some other great sites on the history of the modern State of Israel:
And while on the subject of myths, this is mandatory reading.
On That Day in 1948
Here is what the Palestine Post was saying on that fateful day in 1948.
This is what the world heard when David Ben Gurion uttered the Proclamation of Independence. Considering it is in Hebrew, you may want to read the English translation.
Other Stuff
Here is the Hativka, Israel’s national anthem. Pick a version, any version.
Here is information on the Israeli flag. You can also read my past fisking of Islam Online in which they claim the flag symbolizes Zionist aspirations to take all the land between “the Nile and the Euphrates.”
We also have an emblem. Here is more on that.
1 thought on “Independence Day”
Only in Israel… Today IsraelNN.com reported that Israeli flower-growers donated 120,000 flower arrangements for placement on the graves of Israel’s fallen soldiers nationwide.
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