Knesset speaker Reuven Rivlin kicks off 63rd Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem; the theme of this year's ceremony is 'Looking after one another – the year of mutual care.'
By Haaretz ServiceTags: Israel news
Independence Day celebrations kicked off Monday night in Israel with the lighting of beacons at the official ceremony at Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, which also marks the conclusion of Memorial Day.
The theme of this year's ceremony, for Israel's 63rd Independence Day, is "Looking after one another – the year of mutual care."
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin opened the ceremony with a political speech, calling on Israelis to forget the dream of a melting pot, and come to terms with the fact that Israelis will never be united as a people in their opinions, but they all share a joint destiny.
Rivlin also spoke about the uprising in the Arab world, in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, saying "although the destabilization has raised the fear of a new, extremist Middle East, we must recognize the courage of those fighting for their freedom."
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/on-its-63rd-birthday-israel-is-a-shining-beacon-in-the-middle-east-1.360780