Communicated by 50th Anniversary of the State of Israel Celebrations Association Jerusalem, 17 December 1997 President Weizman and PM Netanyahu to mark approach of Israel's 50th Anniversary with Hanukkah Candle-Lighting A candle-lighting celebration on the first night of Hanukkah at the President's Residence, on Tuesday, 23.12.97, will mark the approach of Israel's 50th anniversary. At the event, where President Ezer Weizman will host Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president and Mrs. Weizman, along with the prime minister, will light the first candle of Hanukkah. The evening, being organized by the Information Center with the participation of guests from the Ethiopian community in Israel, will be moderated by actress Masaki Shibro. Singer Boaz Sharabi will provide entertainment for the assembled guests. The ceremony will begin at 19:30 and will last about 30 minutes. An athlete from Israel's Maccabi movement will arrive direct from Modi'in carrying a torch, as part of the torch run being organized by Maccabi. In conjunction with the candle-lighting at the President's Residence, Hanukkah candles will be lit in 30 capitals world-wide, to mark Israel's 50th anniversary. This is being done at the initiative of the Foreign Ministry, which approached heads of state and government to participate in the event. The candles will be lit in a special Hanukkah candelabra of silver and gold, which was made according to a copy of an ancient candelabra belonging to the family of Yehoshua Freeman, the seventh generation of a Jerusalem family which held the keys to Rachel's Tomb for generations. The candelabra is engraved with the emblems of the 12 tribes and bears the inscription, "These candles are holy." Following the conclusion of the ceremony at the President's Residence, the president and the prime minister will continue on to Binyanei Ha'uma for the opening ceremony of the World Zionist Congress, at 20:30. The congress is being held this year to mark both the 100th anniversary of Zionism and the approach of Israel's 50th anniversary. It should be noted that while the candle-lighting ceremony marks the approach of the country's 50th anniversary, the actual opening of the 50th anniversary celebrations will be held on Independence Day, in accordance with a decision by the Cabinet.