Israel’s national Independence Day torch lighting ceremony in 2014. This year’s ceremony took place on Wednesday. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Independence Day celebrations began on Wednesday night with the traditional torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.

The theme of this year’s ceremony is “civilian bravery” and torches were lit by Rona Ramon, Herzl Biton, Gabi Barshishat, Avi Toibin, Dr. Anan Falah, Nili and Moshe Levy, Hillel Bareli, Rotem Elisha, Fainy Sukenik, Yaakov Ehrenfeld, Father Gabriel Naddaf, IDF representative Sgt. Roberto Farah-Usa and Border Police representative Staff Sgt. Alison Berson.

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