Israel will swiftly shift gears, from somber commemoration to celebration, on Wednesday night as Memorial Day events wind down and Independence Day festivities commence. A little more than 24 hours before the state turns 64, organizers are putting the final touches on the annual celebrations including live performances and large-scale events all over the country. On Monday, President Shimon Peres surprised the 119 soldiers who have been chosen to receive a presidential award of excellence on Independence Day. Showing up at their dress rehearsal taking place just outside his residence, Peres walked on stage, shook hands and showered the soldiers with praise for their service. "When I see the State of Israel today I am overcome with pride -- over our achievements; the high peaks we've reached; the fact that my fellow friends, the founding members of this nation, have had their dreams realized. There is no doubt that Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion's vision pales in comparison to the reality we live in today," Peres told the soldiers. At the scheduled awards ceremony on Independence Day, Peres is expected to join the crowd in the traditional Independence Day sing-along, together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz. Peres said he hoped that Hagar Zohar, one of the soldiers injured during last week's lighting rig accident at the Mount Herzl National Cemetery (during the rehearsals for the official state torch-lighting ceremony marking the beginning of Independence Day), had a speedy recovery. Peres said he would see to it that Zohar, among the recipients of the presidential award, would receive her distinction in a special ceremony he will organize with Gantz as soon as she recuperates. In addition to the live broadcast of the award ceremony from the President's Residence by all public television outlets, it will also be streamed live on Peres' newly launched Facebook page, to allow all the Jewish communities and friends of Israel worldwide to be part of the celebration. Meanwhile, Netanyahu met with the contestants of this year's International Bible Contest, set to take place on Independence Day. This year's crop of hopefuls comprises 54 Jewish teenagers from around the world. At the special reception ahead of the contest Monday, Netanyahu said Israel offers them a chance to relive the experiences of their biblical ancestors. "I implore you to make aliyah. The biblical stories are not amorphous, they are real; they took place in real places with great protagonists such as Isaiah the prophet, King David and others. This is your country, your book, your heritage. I ask that you don't translate the bible to foreign languages; rather, translate it into action. I want you to come and live here and, as young Jews, be part of history."
'Ben-Gurion's vision pales in comparison to Israel today'
President Shimon Peres thanks outstanding soldiers for making modern-day Israel a success story, beyond "my generation's wildest imagination" • Prime minister urges international Bible contest participants to make aliyah.
