Israel Opens Independence Day Events with Mourning for 12,000 Casualties

One-minute blasts of sirens and of ship, factory and train whistles sounded throughout Israel this morning, to mark the start of services for Israel’s war dead. Memorial Day, traditionally, ushers in the observance of Israel’s Independence Day, and commemorates the 12, 000 servicemen and women who were killed or lost as missing in action in Israel’s War of Independence 14 years ago. The memorial actually began Monday night, when candles were lighted in synagogues everywhere in Israel.

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion broadcast a special Independence Day address tonight, declaring that Independence Day was Israel’s “greatest landmark since the people became one in the days of Saul and David.” He said that while, 2, 500 years ago, some 50, 000 exiles returned from Babylon, 20 times that many settled in modern Israel–not from one country but from nearly one hundred. “This is the first ingathering of the exiles in our history, the only one of its kind the world has ever known, ” he said.

Israel’s greatest achievement, which he said was not yet sufficiently appreciated, was to become a “unifying center, a spiritual fortress for Jews throughout the world. East and West.” He added that the Jewish State could not be considered faithful to its mission “without a profound emotional attachment” to Jews throughout the world.

BEN-GURION STRESSES DIFFICULTIES, DANGERS ON THE ROAD AHEAD

Independence Day, he told his people, was not merely a festival, but also an occasion for the State and the people to take stock of their position and achievements. He said it “must

He said Israel’s economy was not yet self-supporting, that Israel “has not yet guaranteed to the whole younger generation the educational and social standards required to continue the maintenance of the spiritual and moral advantage which is our only secret weapon both on the international scene and for military tests that may yet be in store.”

The Prime Minister cited the new economic policy set in motion with the devaluation of the Israeli pound, last February 9, and warned that essential economic reforms could not succeed without the planned, concerted efforts of all concerned, including workers, employers, managers, experts and professionals, as well as Israel banks, local authorities and the national Government. He appealed for all-out cooperation to cut costs and improve productivity of Israel’s industry.

He said that, while Israel’s population had more than doubled in the 14 years of State-hood, there were still millions of Jews in other countries who were doomed to spiritual extinction if their longing to settle in Israel remained unfulfilled. He added that “as long as we have not brought in these millions, there can be no ease in Israel, and our primary and supreme task will not have been achieved.”

SOVIET ENVOY HEADS DIPLOMATS GREETING BEN-ZVI; HAGANAH, IRGUN HONOR DEAD

Members of the diplomatic corps, United Nations representatives and heads of foreign missions called on President Izhak Ben-Zvi this afternoon. The dean of the diplomatic corps, Soviet Ambassador Mikhail Bodrov, felicitated the President, the Government and the people on behalf of his colleagues, who had assembled for a reception by President and Mrs. Ben-Zvi.

A parade of veterans of the Haganah the pre-state Jewish underground army, was reviewed by President Ben-Zvi as part of memorial observances. Countrywide traffic came to a halt, workers in fields, factories and offices honored Israel’s war dead by observing two minutes of silence. At sundown tonight, the same sirens signaled the close of Memorial Day and immediately ushered in observance of Israel’s 14th Independence Day.

In a special Order of the Day, Chief of Staff Zvi Tzur recalled the bravery of the fighters in the War of Independence who, he said, with virtually no weapons “but with a spirit that guides us to this day, ” won over Arab odds. “It is because of those who gave their lives that we can light our festive lights tonight,” he added.

A special ceremony was held in front of the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv today, in memory of the Haganah dead. At Beersheba, members of the one-time underground Irgun provided a portion of the honor guard stationed at the southern city’s memorial light.

PERES NOTES NEW WEAPONS ACQUIRED BY ARAB STATES, PLEDGES ISRAEL DETERRENCE

Deputy Defense Minister Shimon Peres said today that “it cannot be said that the danger to Israel has decreased.” He said that, although both Israel and the neighboring Arab countries had acquired new weapons, the huge advantage of the Arab states in that respect remained unchanged. He added that the Arab rulers “continue to threaten Israel and to wave their swords against this country.”

He asserted that no threat would prevent Israel from carrying out its development plans, including the countrywide irrigation plans which include pumping water from Lake Tiberias to the Negev. He stressed that Israel would continue to maintain a powerful deterrent force to prevent any immediate danger.

A large influx of prominent personalities, particularly from the new African states, was climaxed by the arrival of Leon M’ba, president of Gabon. He was welcomed by President Ben-Zvi, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister; and military chiefs. Previously, officials of Senegal and Liberia arrived.