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Israelis flock to beaches, parks to celebrate Independence Day

Xinhua, May 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Israel was celebrating its Day of Independence on Tuesday, marking the 69th year of the country's establishment.

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

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis went celebrating in the beaches and parks, lighting barbecues and waving flags.

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

A military spokesperson said this year the flyby presented for the first time Israel's newly-received F-35 jets. So far, Israel had received five jets in recent months after it agreed to purchase 50 of the advanced stealth U.S.-made planes.

Speaker of the parliament Yuli Edelstein opened the ceremony, urging national unity.

"The citizens of Israel must create a society with respect for others, that shows compassion for the weak and the needy and respect their traditions," he said.

In a video message, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Jewish people "had been scattered around the world for millennia" until it "returned to our ancient homeland."

"Today Israel is strong, democratic, prosperous. And I have no doubt that in the coming 69 years, Israel will continue to thrive, be strong and prosperous," he said.

Singers and artists performed on stages across the country all through the night, with fireworks going off in the background.

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

Furthermore, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday that closure was imposed on the West Bank, not allowing Palestinians to enter Israel from Sunday midnight to early Wednesday.

Also on Monday, Israel reacted to a policy document presented by the Palestinian Islamist group of Hamas. The charter drops Hamas' longstanding call for the destruction of Israel.

A statement by the Prime Minister's Office rejected the document, accusing Hamas of trying to "fool the world."

Israel's Independence Day marks the day in which David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, declared the establishment of the State of Israel by then-Palestine's Jewish leadership in 1948.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, who lived in this region, became refugees in the ensuing battles.

The Palestinians who stayed became Israeli citizens and make up about 20 percent of the Israeli population. Endit