More than 300,000 spectators and 50,000 marchers braved unseasonably cold, rainy weather today to attend and participate in the 20th annual Salute to Israel parade on Fifth Avenue, marking the 36th anniversary of Israel’s independence.
The parade, consisting of 26 colorful floats, 30 bands and marching representatives of more than 100 schools, youth groups and organizations from the New York area, extended from 57th to 86th streets, a mile and-a-half. It was organized and sponsored by the American Zionist Youth Foundation around the theme “At 36 We Are Together.” The number 36, which is twice “Chai” — the Hebrew numberal 18 — symbolizes growth and development.
The parade organizers has anticipated a half million spectators and although they fell considerably short of that number due to inclement weather, the parade was nevertheless “the largest assembly of people in support of Israel anywhere in the world outside of Israel,” as the sponsors claimed.
The reviewing stand, at 69th St. was packed with city, state and national dignitaries. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Arens was guest of honor. President Reagan was represented by White House Counselor Edwin Meese. Others on the stand included the President’s special assistant for liaison with the Jewish community, Marshall Breger; Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R.NY); Mayor Edward Koch of New York; Meir Rosenne, Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S.; Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations; Naphtali Lavie, Israel’s Consul General in New York and former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban. Another guest who was warmly received was former Sen. Jacob Javits (R. NY) who attended the parade in a wheelchair.
Arens spoke briefly, saying that he brought greetings from the people of Israel to the people of America and hailed the solidarity and friendship between the two countries.
MEESE CALLS ISRAEL ALLY OF WEST
Meese enlarged on that theme. Israel-American relations “are close and continuing to grow closer,” he said, adding that these are not short term relations but rather long term, based on shared moral values and democracy. He described Israel as on ally not only of the U.S. but of all the West and stressed the common strategic interests between Israel and the U.S. He warned that if Israel were ever to be expelled from the UN, Washington would also leave the world organization.
Koch delcared: “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Israel. All you have to be is American.”
Only one incident marred the event. Shortly before Arens rose to speak, four individuals tried to storm the reviewing stand shouting “Leave the settlers alone.” They were swiftly subdued by scores of police. No arrests were made. One of the four who identified himself to reporters as Joseph Alter of New York, said he was protesting the treatment of Jewish settlers on the West Bank by the Israeli government and specifically the treatment of 27 suspected members of a Jewish terrorist underground in that territory who were indicted last week for a wide range of criminal offenses against Arab civilians. According to Alter, “they are not terrorists, they are heroes.”
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