The 34th anniversary of Israel’s independence was celebrated at festive gatherings in the United States, Canada and overseas. Diplomats from many countries mingled with their Israeli counterparts, local civic leaders, prominent American Jews and other friends of Israel to honor the achievements of the Jewish State since its founding a generation ago and to wish it a peaceful, prosperous future.
Israel’s progress in the fields of science, education, agriculture, arts and letters were underscored by Yehuda Blum, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who delivered the keynote address at the American Zionist Federation (AZF) assembly for Israel’s independence attended by some 700 people at Town Hall here.
Although Blum’s speech stressed the positive, the Israeli envoy could not ignore what he referred to sardonically as the “birthday present” given Israel by the United Nations General Assembly yesterday.
This was the resolution, strongly opposed by the United States and virtually all Western nations, which declared Israel to be “not a peace loving” nation. The people of Israel have “given ample evidence of its love for peace in recent days,” Blum said, noting Israel’s “supreme sacrifices for peace” by withdrawing from Sinai last Sunday.
Rabbi Joseph Stemstein, president of the AZF, called on American Jews to stand firm behind Israel. He warned against self-doubts among American Jews concerning Premier Menachem Begin’s policies. “The only Jews who are frightened by Begin are frightened Jews,” he declared, to the applause of the audience.
A GLITTERING ARRAY OF DIPLOMATS
At the United Nations itself, a glittering array of diplomats, celebrities and local dignitaries were among the more than 1000 guests attending an Israel Independence Day reception sponsored by Ambassador Blum and Israel Consul General Naphtali Lavie. The guests included UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar, Egyptian Ambassador Esmat Abdel Meguid and Mayor Edward Koch of New York.
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Jeane Kirkpatrick, was among the several hundred guests attending an Israel Independence Day celebration at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, hosted by Ambassador Moshe Arens and his wife, Muriel Arens. For the envoy, who took his post last January, it was the first Independence Day reception in Washington.
The guests included Nicholas Veliotes, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East and South Asian Affairs; his deputy, Morris Draper; Richard Fairbanks, Secretary of State Alexander Haig’s personal representative to the autonomy talks, and other Reagan Administration officials.
More than 1,000 people attended an Israel Independence and Remembrance Day celebration in Montreal, held under the auspices of the Canadian Zionist Federation. CZF chairman David Azrieli observed that “the creation of the State of Israel was made possible by the sacrifice of six million Jewish martyrs and of many thousands of Israeli soldiers who died in Israel’s wars.”
Yitzhak Meir, the Israeli Consul General, brought greetings from Jerusalem which stressed the tremendous efforts made by the Israeli people to achieve a better life under the banner of peace.
In Paris, the French government conveyed its warmest greetings to Israel on its 34th anniversary. Three senior Cabinet ministers and dozens of lesser rank diplomats attended a celebration at the Israel Embassy. The guests included Justice Minister Robert Badinter, Defense Minister Charles Herbu and Welfare and Social Security Minister Nicole Questiaux.
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