Shalom, Shalom

That's, "Hello, Goodbye" in Hebrew. The Jerusalem Post reports that the State of Israel has officially apologized to The Beatles 43 years after withdrawing an invitation for the world's biggest band to perform on their 1965 world tour. But that's not all!:

Israel's ambassador to Great Britain is scheduled to . . . present the [Beatles Museum in Liverpool's] manager with an official apology letter, including an invitation to remaining band members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to come perform during the celebrations of 60 years of Independence of the State of Israel, Army Radio reported.

This story illustrates Israel's progression from a moralistic, socialist state in the 1960s (The Beatles were turned away because of the government's paternal attitude) to a capitalist, liberal democracy today. It's a progression that started with state-owned media and has resulted now in a diverse popular culture. It's a progression that Great Britain went through too, oddly enough. Having the remaining Beatles perform in Israel for its 60th birthday celebrations is a bit idealistic, but would be a fitting tribute to the way the Western world has changed in the last 43 years.