The Histadrut, the Israel Labor Federation, decided today that it would not arrange any major labor rallies on May Day because May 1, a Sunday, is the eve of the opening of the celebration of Israel’s 12th anniversary of Independence. Small meetings will be called on Saturday instead.
The official Israel celebration of Independence Day will center in Haifa where the annual military parade will take place Monday. Several new weapons will be put on public display for the first time. One of them is a mounted mortar on half-tracks, an arrangement giving this fixed artillery piece much greater mobility, particularly on rough terrain.
Special trains from Tel Aviv will bring thousands of tourists to viewing stands for the parade. The celebration here will start-Sunday night immediately after two minutes of silence in memory of those killed in Israel’s War of Independence.
Fireworks will give the signal for the start of a parade of young Israelis who will be joined by other citizens along the route. Special entertainment units will be sent to remote settlements.
Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim issued a call urging the populace to refrain from any entertainment activities on Memorial Day Sunday. In his call he said “Let us honor the memory of those who, in dying, bequeathed life to us.” He suggested attendance at special synagogue services Sunday morning instead of festivities.
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