Herzog’s Independence Day Message

President Chaim Herzog, in his message marking Israel’s 38th Independence Day, said.

The year just past has indeed been marked by struggle, in Israel and throughout the Jewish would. Anti-Semitism has made itself felt in many a country. The Jews of the Soviet Union, of Syria and Ethiopia, still find themselves behind barred doors. Jews in the free nations face the overwhelming threat of assimilation and engage in a complex and ardent effort to strengthen and expand Jewish education.

Over Israel, as over the whole of the civilized world, hangs the threat of terrorism. It is one of the positive achievements of the year that the international community is beginning to think in terms of a unified and unintimidated effort to stem terrorism. In this, Israel has demonstrated leadership in confronting the problem.

I call on the Jewish people to affirm their resolve to combat our enemies by coming to Israel this year in a demonstration of unity and commitment.

In Israel we will rededicate ourselves to the struggle against intolerance and for the strengthening of our democracy. Together with our Government’s successful efforts to rehabilitate the country’s economy and its constant search for peace in the region, we must rededicate ourselves to the principles of equality and tolerance for all faiths and peoples enunciated in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.

Towards the end of the year a happy note was struck by the liberation of Anatoly Shcharansky from his long inhuman imprisonment. The hope that he may be followed by many other Prisoners of Zion, together with the hope for peace and harmony in Israel, for fruitful Jewish education in the world, for closer links between Jews everywhere and Israel, and aliya to it–with these hopes and with faith in the Rock of Israel, we face the 39th year of the State of Israel.