While Israel was celebrating 60 years of declaring itself a state, the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was trying to defend himself from accusations of bribery. He is suspected of illicitly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars before becoming PM. The allegations suggest he took campaign money from a US businessman while mayor of Jerusalem. But while the PM admitted he had received help with election fundraising, he denied ever taking bribes. However he says he will resign if charges are pressed. The investigations into corruption allegations had been subject to a gagging order but at the end of a day of festivities across the country the gag was lifted [BBC].
Throughout the day fireworks, concerts and an aerial display were among the events laid on across Israel. Families enjoyed picnics and barbecues for the national holiday.
Israel declared itself an independent state on 14 May 1948, three years after the end of World War II, and the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust. But Palestinians know the foundation day as al-Nakba, or "the Catastrophe". It may be a day marked as the beginning of catastrophe for Mr Olmert [BBC maps / BBC / CNN].
Throughout the day fireworks, concerts and an aerial display were among the events laid on across Israel. Families enjoyed picnics and barbecues for the national holiday.
Israel declared itself an independent state on 14 May 1948, three years after the end of World War II, and the death of six million Jews in the Holocaust. But Palestinians know the foundation day as al-Nakba, or "the Catastrophe". It may be a day marked as the beginning of catastrophe for Mr Olmert [BBC maps / BBC / CNN].
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