If only Israel truly was independent and didn’t care what Obama or Europe thought.

[Ynet] – Israel made the jarring move from grief to joy on Wednesday evening, welcoming Independence Day with a torch-lighting ceremony at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem.

The torch-lighting ceremony, which officially marks the beginning of Independence Day celebrations, focused this year on trailblazers – outstanding Israelis who reached unusual and inspiring achievements and have made a significant contribution to Israeli innovation and excellence in different walks of life, including: Science and technology, defense, economics, medicine, agriculture, culture and sports.

But before official Independence Day celebrations could start, Herzl Shaul, the father of Oron Shaul who was killed in battle in Saja’iyya last summer, read out the Yizkor (“remembrance”) prayer, in honor of Israel’s fallen soldiers and terror victims.

Col. (res.) David Rokani, who commanded the ceremony for the 33rd year in a row, then asked Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein permission to start the ceremony.

The Israeli flag was then raised to the top of the flagpole, and the celebration of Israel’s 67th Independence Day began.