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Israel celebrates 68th Independence Day

Xinhua, May 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Israel celebrated its Day of Independence on Thursday, marking the 68th year of the country's establishment.

Earlier on Thursday morning, official celebrations started in Israeli President Reuven Rivlin's chambers, with the delivery of citations for distinguished service of soldiers.

As a popular part of the day, fighter jets and army helicopters graced the skies over the beaches of the Mediterranean.

The celebrations started on Wednesday evening, with singers and artists performing on the streets across the country, with fireworks going off in the background.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sent a recorded message to the official ceremony in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening, praised Israel's accomplishments.

"World leaders come to Jerusalem every day. They say to me Israel is a vibrant and entrepreneurial country, creative spiritually and materially," Netanyahu said, according to a statement from his office.

Netanyahu said while Israelis face "challenges ahead," he is "certain" they could overcome them together.

The celebrations would continue throughout Thursday, with many Israelis celebrating with barbecues or watching aircraft flybys over the country's beaches.

According to Israel's Bureau of Statistics, as of this Independence Day, there are 8.5 million people living in Israel, a rise of 182,000, or 2.2 percent, over a year ago.

The number of Jewish citizens, at 6.37 million, accounts for 74.8 percent of the total population, and that of Arab Israelis, at 1.77 million, represents 20.8 percent of the population.

Security forces have increased their alert level and many policemen were deployed throughout the country.

Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday the closure of the West Bank territories, not allowing Palestinians to enter Israel from Tuesday midnight to early Friday.

The move comes amid an ongoing wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, which has claimed the lives of 28 Israelis and 203 Palestinians since October 2015. Endit