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The Jewish people are marking the 60th anniversary of their national rebirth, the founding of Israel, on Thursday with the usual military flyovers, flag buntings and televised reminiscences of aging pioneers.

But there is another form of celebration planned, and its sponsors believe it says something about the national character: a three-day conference of some of the best minds from around the world on some of the biggest challenges facing humankind — and especially the Jews — in the coming decades.

"The brain enriches the pocket, not the other way around," Shimon Peres, Israel's president and the patron of the conference, said in an interview. "We are a small land and a small people, but we can become a daring world laboratory, and that is our desire and plan."

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JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel celebrated its 60th birthday with barbecues and military display on Thursday but the party was marred when police announced they were investigating whether the prime minister had taken massive bribes.

Ehud Olmert said in a late-night televised statement that he had taken cash for a decade from an American businessman but insisted they were legitimate campaign donations and refused to resign unless the attorney general indicted him.

Doubts over his future could derail U.S.-backed efforts for a peace deal with the Palestinians already beset by squabbles over Jewish settlements and violence in the Gaza Strip.

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JERUSALEM - A Jewish astronaut greets Israel from space.

Revelers try to set a record for the most people singing a national anthem. To celebrate turning 60, Israel is staging fireworks, air force flyovers and a birthday bash for anyone born on the day the Jewish state was founded.

Israel is marking its 60th Independence Day, which began at sundown yesterday, with a great sense of pride but also uncertainty about its future and doubts about prospects for peace with the Palestinians.

Six decades after rising from the ashes of the Holocaust, the Jewish state is still plagued by threats from abroad and an identity crisis at home.

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ORIGINAL: kittinSol

It's a nice thought, Level. Just wondering how this thread will turn out...

kittin, how do most threads turn out  here?  Anyway..... there is always hope, lovely lady.

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ORIGINAL: Level

Israel is 60.

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The Jewish people are marking the 60th anniversary of their national rebirth, the founding of Israel, on Thursday with the usual military flyovers, flag buntings and televised reminiscences of aging pioneers.

But there is another form of celebration planned, and its sponsors believe it says something about the national character: a three-day conference of some of the best minds from around the world on some of the biggest challenges facing humankind — and especially the Jews — in the coming decades.

"The brain enriches the pocket, not the other way around," Shimon Peres, Israel's president and the patron of the conference, said in an interview. "We are a small land and a small people, but we can become a daring world laboratory, and that is our desire and plan."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/08/africa/08israel.php

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ORIGINAL: DomMeinCT

I'll hold out some hope too.

Happy Birthday, Israel.

Hope is good. Thank you.

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Bethnai wrote:

But this is awsome stuff, how could something this simple get all jacked around?

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ORIGINAL: Bethnai

I won't lie, though. I am already starting to twitch.

Nothing a good beating won't cure.....

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ORIGINAL: Level

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ORIGINAL: DomMeinCT

I'll hold out some hope too.

Happy Birthday, Israel.

Hope is good. Thank you.
 

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ORIGINAL: DomMeinCT

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ORIGINAL: Level

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ORIGINAL: DomMeinCT

I'll hold out some hope too.

Happy Birthday, Israel.

Hope is good. Thank you.
 

My pleasure.
Hatikvah is all about hope.

Their national anthem (Google sure is helpful )