Independence Day in Full Swing Shazar Calls for Fair, Honest Negotiations to Resolve Mideast Crisis

President Zalman Shazar said today that “there seems to be an increasing awareness” even among Israel’s enemies “that the sword cannot provide answers to our problems and that there is no real alternative to fair and honest political negotiations.” Shazar made those remarks in his Independence Day message delivered as Israel celebrated the 24th anniversary of its statehood today.

Although Shazar, as chief of state, normally leaves political comment to the country’s political leaders, he used the occasion of Independence Day to recount Israel’s efforts “to achieve decent and enduring relations” with its neighbors. He noted that “proposal after proposal” has been made by friends and observers but the President of Egypt “still threatens armed conflict” and the terrorist groups “still weave murderous conspiracies.” Shazar said that it was “only the strength of Israel’s defense force that serves as a deterrent.”

DISPLAY OF ARMED MIGHT MUTED

But the display of Israel’s armed might was muted on this Independence Day for budgetary and political reasons. There were no massive military parades, and while the Air Force was much in evidence and staged a spectacular mass parachute jump and supply drop off the beach at Tel Aviv, it was Israel’s Navy that stole the show this year. Ten of Israel’s Saar-class missile boats, the Navy’s primary striking force, gave a virtuoso performance of high speed and intricate maneuvers for tens of thousands lining the Tel Aviv beach and the shore front promenade. Other naval craft participated in exercises which involved the speedy recovery of supplies dropped by parachute into the sea.

Fine spring weather brought throngs into the streets last night to watch fireworks displays. In Jerusalem hundreds of bon fires bore witness to the new tradition of outdoor barbecues in the Zion Valley. Places of entertainment in all the major cities were packed to capacity and traffic was halted by crowds in the streets of downtown Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa.

For the two plane loads of Russian Jewish emigres who landed at Lydda Airport on the eve of Independence Day, the celebrations provided a joyful introduction to their new home. The carnival atmosphere of Independence Day was in sharp contrast to the spirit of sadness that pervaded Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers which preceded it.