Aharon Yariv, a retired general who was formerly chief of Israel’s military intelligence, declared here that among Israel’s major achievements during its 30-year history were “the maintenance of independence, the absorption of immigrants, the development of a modern society within a democratic structure.”
Yariv’s remarks came as he presented the Israel Prime Minister’s Medal to Augustine R. Marusi, chairman and chief executive officer of Borden, Inc. at a National Israel Tribute Dinner held in cooperation with the State of Israel Bonds. More than 700 leaders in the food and chemical industries, as well as major banks and insurance companies, joined in honoring Marusi at the dinner Thursday night with the purchase of $3 million in Israel Bonds.
Yariv, a former Minister of Information, said “were it not for the help from the United States, including Israel Bonds, I am convinced that (Egyptian President Anwar) Sadat would not have taken his peace initiative.” Marusi stressed that the economic strength of Israel “made possible by the Israel Development Bond Program, is the foundation on which rests a great share of our hope for peaceful development and for a strengthening of the forces of freedom in the Middle East.”
Former Israeli Premier Golda Meir sent a message praising Marusi as a “symbol of Understanding and goodwill that we depend on for our survival and progress.”
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