Yom Ha'atzmaut (Hebrew: יום העצמאות, yōm hā-‘aṣmā’ūṯ, lit. "Independence Day") commemorates Israel's declaration of Independence in 1948. It is celebrated on 5 Iyar according to the Hebrew calendar. Yom Ha'atzmaut is preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day.
Yom Ha'atzmaut centers around the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel by The Jewish Leadership led by future Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, on 14 May 1948. This was declared 8 hours before the end of the British Mandate of Palestine, which was due to finish on 15 May 1948.
(... from Wikipedia on 2012-04-17 06:52:58)