I3: Israel's Birth

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Independence Regained

The State of Israel was proclaimed on 14th May 1948 reviving Jewish nationhood after nearly 2000 years. Less than 24 hours later, the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq invaded the country. A massacre was expected. In what became known as the War of Independence, the newly formed, poorly equipped Israel Defence Forces (I.D.F) fought back for over 15 months. While the battle still raged, the gates of the State were thrown open to immigration. Thousands came from European Displaced Persons Camps. Thousands more came from other countries to help defend the nation and then build it up once gunfire had died away. By January 1949, the Arabs had quit the battlefield. One Arab state after another signed armistice agreements and the State was, for the time being, secure. Over 6000 Israelis, 1% of the country's growing Jewish population, had lost their lives in the birth of the State of Israel. The hopeful dreams of Herzl and many other Jewish visionaries had come true.

The Declaration of Independence

The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance...

Exiled from the Land, the Jewish people remained faithful to it in all the countries of their dispersion, never ceasing to pray and hope, for their return...

Jews strove throughout the centuries to go back to the land of their fathers and regain statehood. In recent decades they returned in their masses...

We, hereby declare that, as from the termination of the Mandate at midnight May 14-15, ...the present National Council will act as the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, which will be known as "Israel"...

We extend our hand in peace and fellowship to all neighbouring states and their peoples... The State of Israel is prepared to make its contribution to the progress of the Middle East as a whole.

Our call goes out to the Jewish people all over the world to rally to our side in the task of immigration and development and to stand by us in the great struggle for the fulfilment of the dream of generations for the redemption of Israel.

With trust in Almighty God, we set our hand to this Declaration, at this session of the Provisional State Council, on the soil of the Homeland, in the city of Tel Aviv, on this Shabbat Eve, the 5th of Iyar, 5708, the 14th of May, 1948.

The Law of Return

Established by the Israeli government in 1950, the Law of Return grants every Jew the right to return to Israel and then automatically receive citizenship. This confirmed the age-old yearning for the return to Zion expressed at the first Zionist Congress. On a truly grand historical scale, the Law of Return enabled the ancient biblical prophecy of the "ingathering of the exiles", which Jews have never stopped praying for, to come true. When Israel celebrated her tenth anniversary, the population numbered over two million. Today, over five and a half million Jews live in Israel.

Israel Today

Israel still does not live in peace with all her neighbours. The current peace process is a difficult time for all Israelis and for Jews around the world who watch in anticipation. Bombs are exploding and people are dying. But we Jews are committed to having a homeland. A place of rest and warmth for every Jew, wherever they live. Anyone who has visited this precious place has a special feeling towards it. On Yom Ha'Atzmaut we celebrate with pride and love for this small country. The very existence of Israel is a great pain to all her enemies, but Jews will never let go of the promise that God made to Abraham all those years ago.

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