site.btaBTA Interview: Ambassador Irit Lillian on Israel's 70th Anniversary

Sofia, April 20 (BTA) - Interviewed by BTA, Ambassador Irit Lillian said peace was the greatest blessing Israel could wish for on its 70th anniversary, marked on April 19.

The celebrations will span the whole year, said the Ambassador, giving details of the Embassy's initiatives in Bulgaria.

She hopes a playground for special needs children, named the Jerusalem Garden, will open in Sofia's South Park by this autumn.

The Sofia Film Fest had a special focus on Israeli cinema. This week the Master of Art Film Festival features seven films, either Israeli productions or films about aspects of cultural life in Israel: literature, filmmaking and even cuisine. Between April 24 and May 4, the Talents restaurant will host Days of Israeli Cuisine.

Independence Day is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948. It is the only official holiday when public transport runs and people observing traditional Judaism can travel in cars and light fires, so families go out and have picnics.

After Israel commemorated its war dead and victims of terror earlier this week, the official celebrations of the 70th anniversary began. Every year 12 torches, symbolizing Israel's 12 tribes, are lit in Jerusalem on Independence Day. The various events will last 70 hours (from Wednesday evening to Saturday). Fireworks displays and an air show are taking place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.