Thoughts for Boston as Israel celebrates

With a stupendous Air Force display watched by tens of thousands, state and municipal celebrations, and almost a million barbecues filling the sky with smoke, Israel celebrated its 65th birthday on Monday night and Tuesday.

World leaders conveyed congratulations, including the newly appointed Pope Francis, who sent a letter to Israeli President Shimon Peres. “At the beginning of my Pontificate I gladly invoke upon you and all the people of Israel the blessings of the Most High and assure you of my prayers for your high responsibilities at the service of the nation,” he wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wished “peace and prosperity to the Israeli people”.

Israelis observed their Independence Day habits, such as settling down in front of the television to watch the awarding of the Israel Prizes, the country’s highest civilian honours, and the International Bible Quiz.

Despite the joy for Israel’s birthday, the tragedy in Boston injected a tinge of sadness during celebrations. “Permit me to express our solidarity with the bereaved families in Boston today,” Peres said during a reception for foreign diplomats. “When it comes to events like this, all of us are one family. We feel a part of the people who paid such a high price. God bless them. Today the real problem is terror and terror is not an extension of policy, their policy is terror, their policy is to threaten.”

At the reception, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also conveyed condolences. “On this day and on any day, Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with the American people,” he said. “We are partners in freedom and in seeking a better future for all humanity.”

Netanyahu went on to discuss a theme many in the international community feel he talks about too rarely – the two-state solution. Netanyahu urged diplomats to cable their countries saying Israel is serious about peace. “We are committed to our aspiration for peace, a peace that will be based on the principle of two states for two peoples, a Jewish state alongside a demilitarised Palestinian state,” he said.

Departing from the longstanding opposition of his Likud Party to a Palestinian state, Netanyahu accepted the idea in a 2009 speech. Peres, who has sharp ideological differences with Netanyahu, spoke with rare enthusiasm for his stance on peace.

He said: “I want to compliment our Prime Minister because he contributed something very important for peace and that is a unified position for Israel on how we should end vis-à-vis the Palestinian people. We were ideologically divided in a very profound manner but the greatest divide was between the idea of one large country and two nations for two peoples living together as neighbours. I think one of the greatest contributions of the Prime Minister is to bring Israel to a unified position of two states, for two peoples.”

NATHAN JEFFAY