The nationwide celebrations observing the 80th birthday of David Ben-Gurion, which occurs this year on October 1, were formally inaugurated today when the greetings of the Israeli Government were presented to the former Premier by Interior Minister Moshe Shapiro and Police Minister Behor Shitreet, who journeyed to Sde Boker, Pen-Gurion’s Negev retreat, for the event.
The Cabinet members presented Mr. Ben-Gurion with a scroll on which was inscribed the proclamation of the Cabinet marking the occasion. The proclamation declared: “The Israel Government notes with appreciation the historic services to Israel’s resurgence, its security, well-being and ingathering of exiles rendered by David Ben-Gurion.” The former Premier thanked the visiting Ministers, and the three then retired to Mr. Ben-Gurion’s home for an hour-long talk.
On Friday, President Zalman Shazar will bring the greetings of the nation to Mr. Ben-Gurion at Sde Boker, where he will arrive by helicopter accompanied by two prominent Israeli writers, S.Y. Agnon and Haim Hazaz.
Six mass meetings will be held to mark Mr. Ben-Gurion’s birthday — one each in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ramat Gan, Sde Boker and at an other agricultural settlement The former Premier will later visit the United States, England and France, where celebrations will be held under the auspices of specially formed committees.
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