60 years ago today in Israel – May 14, 1948

The British evacuated from Jerusalem, and Jewish military forces took control of most of the areas the British controlled.  The State of Israel was well established and the United States recognized the new state, which came into being on the evening of Friday, May 14, 1948.  On the night of May 14-15, the regular forces of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon invaded the newly founded country.

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announced “Something unique occurred yesterday in Israel, and only future generations will be able to evaluate the full historical significance of the event.  It is now up to all of us, acting out of a sense of Jewish fraternity, to devote every ounce of our strength to building and defending the State of Israel, which still faces a titanic political and military struggle.”

(Arutz-7, 5/14)

60 Years On, Israel Still Lives – editorial

The British Mandate in Palestine came to an end on May 14, 1948.  In Tel Aviv, Zionist leader David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel in the territory that the United Nations designated as the Jewish homeland.  After nearly two millennia, the Jewish people had come home.  Arab armies attacked within hours, with one leader promising to “sweep the Jews into the sea.”  Against unbelievable odds, Israel prevailed.  After winning two more wars of survival, in 1967 and 1973, the Jewish state would build a durable prosperous democracy.

Israel is not just a fortress against anti-Jewish killers.  It is a raft of modernity and material progress in a regional sea of intolerance and militaristic sectarianism.  Israel, one of the United States’ strongest allies, has no oil reserves, but it has turned itself into a model of diverse economic development unmatched by its neighbors.

(Dallas Morning News, 5/14)

Israel’s Doom Would Be Bad News for the West – Mark Steyn

On a tiny strip of land narrower at its narrowest point than many American townships, Israel has built a modern economy with a GDP per capita within striking distance of the European Union average.  Israel also enjoys a birthrate twice that of the European average.  The Jews lived in Europe for centuries, but without ever being accepted as “European:” To enjoy their belated acceptance as Europeans, they had to move to the Middle East.

Unlike much of the rest of the West, Israel has the advantage of living on the front line of the existential challenge.  All the reasons for Israel’s predicted doom apply to Europe with bells on.  “I have a premonition that will not leave me,” wrote Eric Hoffer, America’s great longshoreman philosopher, after the 67’ war.  “As it goes with Israel, so it will go with all of us.”

(National Review, 5/14)

Bush opens Mideast trip to mark Israel’s anniversary

President Bush on Wednesday (14th) opened a celebratory visit to Israel.  “We consider the Holy Land a very special place, and we consider the Israeli people our close friends,” Bush said.  “Our two nations both faced great challenges when they were founded.  And our two nations have both relied on the same principles to help us succeed.  We built strong democracies to protect the freedoms given to us by Almighty God…and we built an enduring alliance to confront terrorists and tyrants.”  “Good to be back,” Bush told a member of the welcoming delegation, referring to his visit to Israel in January.

(AP/WTOP, 5/14)

Sierra Leone – Israel Friendship

Sirajin Rollings-Kamara, national coordinator of the Sirra Leone-Israel Friendship Society, has reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to boost the country’s agriculture, technical/vocational education, infrastructure, tourism, and mining.

He told Vice President Sam Sumana on Friday (9th), “We will not forget the contribution Israel made in this country, among others the construction of the parliament building, the Post Office, and the Bank of Sierra Leone.”

(Concord Times – Sierra Leone, 5/14)

Palestinian rocket attack: “Instead of a party, we have a funeral”

Yariv Katz knew his mother Shuli was dead when he saw blood spilling from her crumpled body after Monday’s (12th) Palestinian rocket attack in Moshav Yesha on the Gaza border.  The two had gone to the moshav to visit his aunt who was staying there with friends.  Yariv had not understood that he was entering an area where Palestinian rockets regularly fell, since the rockets have not fallen on Kibbutz Gvaram near Ashkelon, where both he and his mother lived, even though it is within rocket range.  “If I had known that there would be Kassams, I would not have gone there,” he said.

Shuli and her husband Rafi were childhood sweethearts who were born in Israel, grew up on Kibbutz Gvaram and married at age 20.  Shuli worked for 35 years as a nurse, and had four children and five grandchildren.  The family had begun to organize a large party to celebrate Shuli’s 70th birthday next month, Yariv said.  “Instead of a party, we have a funeral.”

(JP, 5/14)

Israeli troops attack rocket launching squads Wednesday

At dawn Wednesday (14th) Israeli troops pushed into southern Gaza to target-rocket launching squads the army said.  Two rocket-cell members were killed in air strikes near the town of Khan Younis, according to Palestinian doctors.  Israel frequently enters Gaza to stop militants from daily firing rockets and mortars at Israeli border communities.

(International Herald Tribune, 5/14)

Al-Zahar: “We can beat the Zionists”

At a mass rally on Wednesday (14th) in Gaza, Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar said, “The Zionist legend about being unbeatable is ruined, today.  I reiterate and emphasize more than ever that we will never recognize Israel, and we will establish a Palestinian state on all of Palestine.”

(Ynet, 5/14)

Ahmadinejad – “Israel is throwing a party for the dead”

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Iranians Wednesday (14th) that “throwing a party for this Zionist regime is like having a birthday party for a dead person.”  His latest outburst against the Jewish state coincided with the arrival of American President George W. Bush to Israel.

“Israel must know that the nations of the region hate this counterfeit regime, and if there is the slightest chance, they will uproot them,” Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the northern province of Golestan. 

(Ha’Aretz, 5/14)

Australian Prime Minister mulls court action against Ahmadinejad

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says his government is taking legal advice on whether it will take Iran’s president to the International Court of Justice for inciting violence against Israel.  “We will take legal advice, which the attorney-general is currently doing, on whether there is a profitable way forward here through the appropriate international legal mechanisms and we’ll study that advice carefully,” he told SKY News.

(SKY News, AFP, 5/14)