Communicated by 50th Anniversary Association Spokeswoman Jerusalem, 19 January, 1998 50th Anniversary Association Tu Beshvat Events Chairman of the 50th Anniversary Association Yitzhak Moda'i announced that the opening ceremony for the Jubilee will be held on Tu Beshvat, Wednesday, 11 February, 1998, at 16:30 in Kiryat Gat. The ceremony will also mark the Knesset's anniversary. The ceremony will consist of a tree planting in the city as part of the "Forests for the Fallen" project. The state ceremony opening the Jubilee celebrations of the State of Israel, will be held with the President of the State, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Knesset and MKs on Tu Beshvat. The ceremony is being organized by the 50th Anniversary Association, in cooperation with the Information Center, the Kiryat Gat Municipality, Union of Local Councils, the Jewish National Fund and the Yad Le-Banim Organization. The ceremony will include the planting of trees in the Kiryat Gat Forest and an artistic sound and light show which will reflect the main events of the country's past 50 years. "Forests for the Fallen" Project In the framework of the project trees will be planted in forests throughout the country in memory of fallen in Israel's wars. The project will open with a ceremonial planting at Kiryat Gat and simultaneously in 50 additional towns in the country. The project will continue throughout the year, during which approximately 500,000 trees will be planted in dozens of towns and settlements in the country. The concept for the "Forests of the Fallen" project was initiated by the Jubilee Anniversary Events Public Council, headed by Ms. Ora Herzog. The concept was adopted by the Association and is being implemented. The project is headed by Hasharon Local Council head Ephraim (Pichotka) Hiram. The project will be one of the Jubilee initiatives that honors the fallen. Participants in the project include: 50th Anniversary Association; Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport; Information Center; Yad Le-Banim Organization and the IDF.