by KYW's Hadas Kuznits, reporting from Jerusalem
 
After mourning for Israel’s fallen soldiers on Israeli Memorial Day (see previous story and video), suddenly the country becomes jubilant for its Independence Day.

“Pretty much it's all one big party on Yom Ha’atzmaut (Day of Independence), really.”

In fact, the 60th anniversary celebration is the reason that Lower Merion native Marta Mozes (top photo at right) chose this particular semester to study at Tel Aviv University:

“This is like the biggest holiday, I think, and the most important time to be in Israel, and definitely the most important time to be in Israel for sure for Yom Ha’atzmaut."

Tel Aviv deputy mayor Yael Dayan (middle photo at right) says Israel has a lot of developments to celebrate:

“Of high tech, of technology, of longer life, better health for the population.”

And seventh-generation Israeli Danny Aleksandrovitch (bottom photo) says Israelis and tourists alike are certainly celebrating:

“I hear that Tel Aviv is on the international night life.  They tell me that even the beauty of the girls draws people to come and to see it.”

See Hadas Kuznits' personal video blog, and listen to KYW Newsradio 1060 all week long for more special reports as Israeli native Hadas Kuznits reports: "Her Homeland at Sixty."