Yom Ha'atzmaut is the national independence day of Israel, commemorating its declaration of independence in 1948. Celebrated annually on 5th of the Jewish month of Iyar, it centers on the declaration of the state of Israel by David Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar, 5708), and the end of the British Mandate of Palestine. It is always preceded by Yom Hazikaron, the Israel fallen soldiers Remembrance Day on the 4th of Iyar.