Peres’ Rosh Hashanah Message

The following is Israeli Premier Shimon Peres’ Rosh Hashanah message:

On the threshold of the New Year 5746, I should like to convey to you my sincere good wishes from Jerusalem, our eternal capital. During the first year of the national unity government, we set ourselves four major goals which we vowed to carry out — responsibly, patiently and faithfully.

We decided to bring home our fighting sons from Lebanon and to ensure the peace and security of our northern towns and villages from within our own borders.

We declared war on rampant inflation. We formulated an economic program that, while reducing our dependence on foreign aid, will lead to renewed economic growth and to the strengthening of Israel’s political position.

We have undertaken to redouble our efforts to revitalize the peace with Egypt. Both Israel and Egypt must breathe new life into the existing agreements; time does not stand still. We cannot allow cynicism, hesitation and stubbornness to dictate the course of events.

SEEK TO OPEN CHANNELS TO PEACE

At the same time, we must seek to open channels of peace with Jordan and the Palestinian Arabs. Terrorism will not make us yield and will not deter us from our sincere efforts. Humanistic aspirations — not military pressure — have been the keystone of our national strategy throughout our history. It is with this belief that we shall continue to live.

With the commencement of the new Jewish year, there goes forth from here, from Zion, a fervent call to all our brethren, wherever they may be, to come and live here with us, to be partners with us in our great task: the building of a State that strives to base its conduct not only on strength, but also on justice.

The beginning of the Jewish year is an appropriate time to remember our oppressed brethren in the Soviet Union, in Syria and in Iran and to vow that we will not rest until we succeed in freeing them and restoring them to their historic homeland. This year we have proved, once again, that the Jewish people are responsible for one another.

The great mission for the salvation of the Jews of Ethiopia is drawing to a close and this remote and wonderful tribe has been restored to our midst. In the face of a skeptical world, we demonstrated spiritual and practical solidarity. Let us continue to bear witness that in routine times, as in times of trial, we are capable of functioning as a single people, our hearts beating as one.

May the prayers of all our forefathers be realized in our time.