JERUSALEM Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys , May 2 (Xinhua) -- 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 Cheap Jaguars Jerseys , 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 Will Richardson Jaguars Jersey , 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 DJ Chark Jaguars Jersey , became refugees in the ensuing battles.
The Palestinians who stayed became Israeli citizens and make up about 20 percent of the Israeli population.
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HARARE, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Harare International Carnival, which was shelved last year due to funding challenges, will be held this year, Zimbabwean Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi said on Monday.
He told a press conference that the carnival will be part of a series of events that are lined up to celebrate the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
Zimbabwe will launch the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (IYSTD) on June 2 after the United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the year for sustainable tourism.
"I can confirm that the Harare International Carnival will take place on September 9, preceded by other events Taven Bryan Jaguars Jersey ," the minister said.
The Harare International Carnival, in its fourth year running, is an annual festival that encompasses a series of events and festivities and is aimed at advancing the arts, culture and heritage of Zimbabwe.
According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, the carnival is about celebrating diversity, getting communities together, getting to know one another in the love and harmony that builds Zimbabwe into a peaceful and promising place for everyone.
In the past, countries such as Brazil Logan Cooke Jaguars Jersey , India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya Ronnie Harrison Jaguars Jersey , Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, the United Kingdom and Zambia have participated in the carnival.
Mzembi said in celebrating IYSTD, Zimbabwe seeks to promote the role of tourism in five key areas namely inclusive and sustainable economic growth; social inclusiveness, employment and poverty reduction; resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change; cultural values Dante Fowler Jr Jaguars Jersey , diversity and heritage and mutual understanding, peace and security.
Several events lined up to celebrate the IYSTD include a clean-up campaign, sustainable tourism symposium and World Tourism Day celebrations.
The minister said the commemorations were expected to foster a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable approach that can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
"Through the activities that have been put in place across the country, we are hoping to bring awareness and education to all stakeholders and the general public on tourism's contribution to the development agenda, peace, equality, partnerships Dawuane Smoot Jaguars Jersey , prosperity and culture, moving towards a more sustainable and prosperous nation," Mzembi said.
Tourism, considered by government as a low hanging fruit, contributes 10.9 percent to Zimbabwe's Gross Domestic Product, 7.3 percent to total employment, 18.8 percent to export earnings and over a billion U.S. dollars in annual revenue.