Israeli politicians have paid tribute to the father of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his death early this morning.

Benzion Netanyahu, who was 102, was a personal aide of the r evisionist Zionist leader Ze'ev Jab o tinsky. A passionate Zionist and a professor of Jewish history, he was known for his academic research into the Spanish Inquisition.

Celebrations have begun to honour 64 years since Israel's declaration of independence.

Israelis across the country will be visiting national parks, holding barbecues, parties and other events to mark Yom Ha'atzmaut, which started on Wednesday night as the annual day of mourning for the country's fallen came to a close.

The wife of Israel's seventh prime minister has died at the age of 88.

Shulamit Shamir, who was born in Bulgaria in 1923, is survived by her husband Yitzhak.

He led Israel for two separate terms as prime minister, between 1983 and 1984 and between 1986 and 1992.

Arthur Balfour was best known for his 'Balfour Declaration' of 1917, a publication which supported the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This was published during his time as Foreign Secretary, during the First World War.

The publication made him hugely popular with Jews all around the world, with the JC at the time calling the declaration a "Jewish triumph".

Perhaps the most famous ship in Israel's history, the Exodus was by no means the only refugee ship that attempted to take European Jews to Palestine, but it was perhaps the most iconic.

The ship, part of the Aliyah Bet operation, departed from France, with more than 4,500 passengers. The majority of them were Holocaust survivors and among them were 655 children.

The legend who made his name as one of Israel's most celebrated fighting men and went on to become president of Israel was born in Tel Aviv. Unpredictable, quixotic and cantankerous were just some of the words the press used to describe him over the years. However, he was well-known for playing the roles of military hero and an architect of peace.

Arieh Handler, the last survivor of those present at the declaration of the state of Israel, has died at the age of 95.

His funeral will be held today in Tel Aviv. There will be shivas in Jerusalem and London.

Two days after David Ben Gurion declared Israel's independence and the surrounding Arab armies attacked, the fledgling state voted in its first president. He would not be officially sworn in until the following February

Silvio Berlusconi has promised that Italy will not recognise a Palestinian state if one is declared without agreement with Israel.

The Italian Prime Minister, speaking during a Yom Ha'atzmaut event in Rome, was quoted pledging that Italy would "absolutely not" accept a unilateral declaration.

An appropriately coloured haze settled on London's Alexandra Palace on Tuesday night as 1,000 guests ate, sang and danced on Israel's 63rd birthday.

Showing off her new necklace, Nofar Valal explained why the gift from her British host family meant so much. "You see these two hearts? One is for the diaspora, one is for Israel. Together we are one big family."

The Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign protested outside the Dublin hotel where the Israel Embassy hosted an Independence Day party for diplomats, Irish government officials and Jewish community members on Tuesday. The demonstration passed off peacefully and there were no arrests.

Camden's Electric Ballroom was turned blue and white on Monday evening as more than 600 students and young professionals came out to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut with Young JNF and Israel Connect.

The atmosphere was as sparkling as the glowsticks and glitter tattoos liberally distributed by the organisers.