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Israel Celebrates 60 Years

[Washington Times] Zalman Shoval - The rebirth of the Jewish state, against extreme odds, was perhaps the greatest victory of the human spirit over adversity. On the very day it declared independence, Israel was invaded by seven Arab armies while it had no regular army, air force or navy - with all the major powers - sadly including the U.S., clamping an arms embargo on a people fighting for its life. In spite of it all, Israel did survive. Indeed, it is still fighting, as its enemies (presently led by a genocidal Iran that is quickly going nuclear) still dream that maybe "next time" they will be successful in exterminating the Jewish state. Zionist pioneers turned the land (which, as a result of Arab and Ottoman neglect and deforestation, had become desert and swamps) into the flourishing garden it once was. Israel also successfully absorbed and integrated millions of often-destitute newcomers, including 1 million people from the former Soviet Union and hundreds of thousands of Jews from Arab countries (in contrast to the much smaller number of Arab refugees who left Israel and are still languishing in ramshackle camps in Arab countries). The State of Israel reborn is seen by most Americans not only as justice done and as the realization of a dream, but also as the embodiment of a country which shares their values and ideals. The writer served as Israel's ambassador to the United States (1990-93 and 1998-2000) and is president of the Israel America Chamber of Commerce.
2008-05-09 01:00:00
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