Israelis are celebrating their 58th Independence Day today (Wednesday), with many people picnicking in the countryside after an evening of fireworks and dancing.Israel's air force prepares a flyover from northern Israel to the south, while the navy shows off its warships along the Mediterranean coast.
Thousands of soldiers and police are on patrol around the country, following numerous alerts about supposed attack plans by Palestinian militants.Israeli forces also are enforcing a ban on Palestinian workers entering Israel from the West Bank and Gaza. Closure of the Palestinian territories was declared more than a month ago.