How grimly appropriate that as Israel approaches its 75th anniversary on Sunday, the IDF has been engaged in operations designed to protect the county from terror — while rockets have been fired across Israel.

On Tuesday, Israel launched Operation Shield and Arrow, beginning with the assassinations of three leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Wednesday saw further military action in Gaza and then rocket fire, almost all of which were intercepted by Iron Dome.

Israel is a miracle. The Jewish homeland was a dream for thousands of years, but in 1948 that dream became a reality.

Yet at no point have Israelis been able to lead the peaceful, normal lives that should be their right. Surrounded by enemies that variously seek to destroy Israelis and wipe Jews from the face of the Earth, its citizens have to exist in a permanent state of alert for terror and war.

They bear this burden with courage and determination, the same attributes that have seen Israel prosper and grow despite its security issues.

Israel today is one of the wonders of the world, a land of opportunity and science, of innovation and generosity.

Now that the Jewish state has been a reality for 75 years, perhaps we can dream that the next stage — peace — becomes a reality, too.