Israel marks 60 years as political clouds gather

Israel celebrated its 60th birthday with barbecues and military display today but the party was marred by an investigation that could unseat the Prime Minister and derail efforts toward a peace it has never known.

Blue-on-white Star of David flags fluttered from cars, rooftops and balconies, fighter planes traced "60" in smoke trails across the sky, paratroopers dropped into the sea and a televised youth Bible quiz highlighted the place Jewish faith holds in a state mainly founded by secular Zionists.

War or the threat of it has clouded every day for Israelis since David Ben-Gurion declared their state in 1948 that was destined to be a haven for survivors of the Nazi Holocaust.

Fireworks, light shows and military fanfare launched celebrations on Wednesday and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is pursuing a deal for a Palestinian state alongside Israel, said the Jewish state craved an end to the decades-old conflict.

Israel's most important ally and the chief sponsor of peace talks launched six months ago, US President George W. Bush, visits next week. So do top executives from Google and Yahoo testament to Israel's success as a technology powerhouse.

Security was intense for fear of attacks and armed police guarded revellers on the beaches. Measures to stop Palestinians entering Israel from Gaza and the West Bank were tightened.

Six Islamic Jihad militants were wounded in an Israeli air strike in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, medical staff said. - Reuters