Israel Still a Besieged Country, President Says in “herzl Manifesto”

On the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the death of Dr. Theodor Herzl, founder of the Zionist political movement, a manifesto was issued tonight by Israel President Itzhak Ben Zvi emphasizing that Israel is still a country besieged by the Arabs. The anniversary will be observed tomorrow with a formal ceremony at Dr. Herzl’s grave here.

“Let us remember on this day that our young state is still besieged and that our enemies do not cease threatening us with a second round,” the President’s manifesto stated. “We must also remember that 90 percent of our people are still dispersed among the nations of the world, part of them still under threat of extermination. Let us strive for Dr. Herzl’s ideal to redeem the Jewish nation through tolerance and in the lofty spirit of Moses and the Prophets. Let us unite on this day because the fate of our nation depends on our unity.”