President Eisenhower today led American Jews and non-Jews in celebrating Israel’s Fifth Anniversary which was marked by ceremonies from coast to coast at which leading personalities emphasized Israel’s significance to the free world.
“On this fifth anniversary of Israel’s independence, American people of all faiths join me in this expression of good wishes and the hope for peace and prosperity in the future,” President Eisenhower said in a message cabled to Itzhak Ben Zvi, President of Israel.
United Nations diplomats joined in the salute to Israel by participating in “A World Tribute to Israel” broadcast arranged by the American Zionist Council. Among the participants were Lester Pearson, president of the United Nations General Assembly; Dr. Ralph Bunche; Gen. Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines; Sir Percy Spender of Australia; and Ambassador G. P. Jooste of South Africa. Tributes to Israel were also voiced on the broadcast by Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Congressman Joseph W. Martin, Jr., Speaker of the House, and Senator Guy Gillette.
“No nation has given a more gallant or Inspiring example of willingness to face up to Its fundamental problems and its national and international responsibilities than Israel.” Mr. Pearson declared. “There cannot, however, be stability and security in Israel, in spite of the efforts of its people, until better relations exist with its Arab neighbors.”
DR. BUNCHE SPEAKS ON NEED FOR ARAB-ISRAEL PEACE
Emphasizing that peace in the Middle East is vital to peace in the world, Dr. Bunche, who served as UN Mediator in the Palestine dispute, pledged that the UN will persevere in its efforts to help Arab and Jew settle all outstanding differences.
Justice Douglas pointed out that Israel has brought to the Middle East an economic, social and political system unknown to the area in recent years. “That is the great significance of Israel to the free world today, because the governmental experience that has flourished in Israel will have a profound effect in the years ahead,” he said.
Representative Martin praised the pioneer efforts of Israel’s people. “We in the free world stand by them in their troubled years ahead,” he stated. “In spite of all the obstacles in her path, we know that Israel will grow and prosper and continue to keep alive the traditions of liberty to which she dedicated herself five years ago.”
Similarly, Senator Gillette warned that Israel still lives “in a precarious position, but I have confidence that her government and her people will manage to survive and prosper, come what may. The spirit of the new Israel is indomitable. And the will of the people to create a flourishing civilization in the desert will not be stayed.”
Responding to the tributes, Ambassador Eban asserted that Israel aspires to peaceful relations with its neighbors, and expressed gratitude for the generous assistance of the United States to Israel which reflects “the deep community of purpose which we pursue together in the world. ” He voiced the hope that international opinion will cause all governments to Europe and elsewhere “to recoil permanently from anti-Jewish incitement.”
On behalf of the entire Zionist movement in the United States, Louis Lipeky, chairman of the American Zionist Council, pledged continued assistance to the people of Israel. “The tasks of achieving economic and political security; of integrating hundreds of thousands of immigrants, both culturally and economically of establishing peaceful relations with her neighbors and friendly relations with nations throughout the world, place a heavy burden on Israel,” he declared. “To the extent that we American Jews can lighten that burden w serve not only our fellow Jews, but our American ideals.”
In Washington, Senator Alexander Wiley, chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Abba Eban, Israel Ambassador to the United States, were the principal speakers at an Israel bond meeting marking the celebration. The Israel Embassy in Washington last night began its celebration with a reception at the Embassy which was attended by a capacity crowd of government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and others.
In New York City, Mayor Vincent R. Impellitteri and other leading personalities joined stars of theater, screen, television and the concert stage in saluting the State of Israel by appearing before 21,000 people In ten theaters throughout the city in behalf of Israel bonds. Admission to the simultaneous Tallies was by purchase of Israel bonds.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
