Israel marks 59th independence day with picnics

Israel celebrated its 59th independence day today with millions enjoying barbecues in gardens and parks while lamenting rising corruption and the depressing after-effects of the summer’s inconclusive war in Lebanon.

“The country is in a good state, but in a bad mood,” Vice Premier Shimon Peres said during independence day celebrations at Jerusalem’s presidential residence.

The residence is currently vacant because the president, Moshe Katsav, suspended himself amid charges of rape, sexual assault and fraud.

Israel’s memorial day for fallen soldiers, a sombre 24 hours of visits to cemeteries, tales of survivors and sad recollections of war-time losses, gave way yesterday evening to the celebration of independence day.

At the Mt. Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Israeli pioneers and soldiers kindled 12 huge torches to signify the start of the holiday. Soldiers marched in formation, and fireworks lit up the Jerusalem sky on a mild spring evening. Cities and towns set up outdoor stages for entertainment.

Government statistics on the eve of the holiday showed that Israel’s population has grown by 121,000 since last year to 7,150,000 – 76 per cent Jews, 20 per cent Arabs and 4 per cent listed as “others,” many of them non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union.

Families loaded their cars with portable grills, charcoal, food and children’s toys and headed to national parks and picnic spots.

Other events set for today included awarding the nation’s top civilian honour, the Israel Prize, to Israelis who have made outstanding achievements in their fields. One is Alice Shalvi, 80, who immigrated from the UK in 1950. She is being recognised for her life’s work as a founder of the Israeli feminist movement and pioneer in Jewish education.

However, the Lebanon war and burgeoning corruption scandals darkened the festive atmosphere. The war took the lives of 157 Israelis, including 39 civilians killed in rocket attacks by Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, but the military failed to achieve the goals laid out by the government – winning return of two captured soldiers and crushing Hezbollah.

A government inquiry committee is set to present its interim findings next month, and harsh criticism of the government and military is expected after one of the rare wars in which Israel’s armed forces did not emerge the clear victors.