Israel Faces Seven Lean Years

Predicting that “Israel has seven lean years ahead with peace just a dim hope,” Israel’s new Consul-General in New York nevertheless assured the national leadership of Hadassah that his country will come through because of its reserves of strength and the support of the Jewish people. Uri Ben-Ari, addressing the opening plenary session of the Mid-Winter Conference of Hadassah in its new headquarters at 50 West 58 Street, said there are four basic realities which must be recognized:

Oil and petro-dollars give an advantage to the Arab countries which Israel does not have; the national interests of the two or three superpowers limit the complete freedom of decision of their client states such as Israel; anti-Semitism is once more resurgent–in the oppression of Jews in the Soviet Union and other countries and in the series of actions and statements at the UN culminating in the recent resolutions equating Zionism with racism; and real peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved until the Arab people–not just governments–accept a Jewish presence in the area and recognize the State of Israel.

In her presidential report to the national board, Rose E. Matzkin said that because of frequent rapid changes in the world and a series of crises situations, Hadassah has been delaying the long-range planning necessary for the creative development of its medical, educational and social services in Israel. “If we are going to contribute toward the improved quality of life in Israel,” she said, “we must evaluate present needs and future goals so that priorities can be set in an orderly way.”

Ben-Ari said Israel can come through the lean years because of a special Kind of “Jewish power” which is based not on military might but on faith and commitment, psychological toughness, willingness to sacrifice to face hardships to build a nation and solidarity of the Jewish people.