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Israel at 69

(Huffington Post) David Harris - "The coming into being of a Jewish state in Palestine is an event in world history to be viewed in the perspective, not of a generation or a century, but in the perspective of a thousand, two thousand, or even three thousand years." (Winston Churchill) As Israel celebrates its 69th Independence Day this week, I'm not dispassionate. The establishment of the state in 1948; the fulfillment of its envisioned role as home and haven for Jews from around the world; its wholehearted embrace of democracy and the rule of law; and its impressive scientific, cultural, and economic achievements are accomplishments beyond my wildest imagination. When one adds that all this took place in the Middle East, where Israel's neighbors determined from day one to destroy it through any means available, Israel's story becomes all the more remarkable. The age-old connection between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel is unique in the annals of history. Indeed, that connection is of a totally different character from the basis on which the U.S, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the bulk of Latin American countries were established; that is, by Europeans with no legitimate claim to those lands who decimated indigenous populations and proclaimed their own authority. In addition, North African countries were conquered and occupied by Arab-Islamic invaders who totally redefined their national character. To understand the essence of Israel's meaning, it is enough to ask how the history of the Jewish people might have been different had there been a Jewish state in 1933, in 1938, or even in 1941. If Israel had controlled its borders and the right of entry instead of Britain, how many more Jews might have escaped and found sanctuary? The writer is CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
2017-05-04 00:00:00
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