The “resurrection” of Israel is “one of the most important and significant events in modern history, “South African Prime Minister Daniel F. Malan declared last night at a banquet given in his honor in Capetown by the South African Zionist Federation. The Zionist movement and leaders paid tribute to Dr. Malan as the first Premier of a foreign country to visit the Jewish State.
Reporting on his visit to Israel last June, the Prime Minister said the psychological and moral effects of the restoration of Israel were profound and that a newborn sense of patriotism, national unity and responsibility had become the driving force in Israel and among Jews of the whole world. Evidence of this drive was to be seen in the self-sacrifice and achievement of the people and particularly in the “nationwide determination to shoulder bravely all the difficulties inherent in the attempt to consolidate widely differing elements into a national unity.”
Dr. Malan said his visits to Israel kibbutzim had been unforgettable experiences. He was deeply moved when he related his visits to the Holy Places, and declared: “In spite of past history there evidently exists no antipathy, nor even indifference, on the part of the Jews towards Christianity and its sacred memorials.” The Holy Places in Israel are common to both Jews and Christians and are in the “safekeeping of both. Mutual relations could not be better, “Dr. Malan added.
Replying to the Prime Minister, S.M. Kuper, chairman of the Zionist Federation, traced the history of friendship between the South African Government and people and the Jewish people and Israel, and pointed out that Dr. Malan’s friendship was another link in a long chain. E. Horowitz, chairman of the Board of Deputies of South African Jews, and Israel Minister Cecil Hyman associated themselves with Mr. Kuper’s tribute to Dr. Malan.
Other guests at the affair included Deputy Prime Minister Havenga, several Cabinet Ministers, judges, Protestant Church leaders, and leaders in the political and military life of the country.
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.
