Israeli Independance Day

Today at sundown Israeli Independance Day begins (it is celebrated according to Jewish calender and therefore the date according to Western calender changes from year to year). Let me remind some facts:

In 1947 UN resolution proposing division of land between Jews and Arabs and creating two-state solution was rejected by Arabs (it has offered very small piece of land to Jews still they were so desperate to have their homeland that they have accepted, despite the doubts, Arab wanted it all). There were also 3 resolutions dealing with the future fate of Jerusalem - all proposing putting it under international supervision - one was proposed by Guatemala, one by Australia, one by the USA. All three were rejected by Arabs who insisted on Jerusalem being exclusively Arab despite her having Jewish majority and being the holiest site of Judaism (same as Mekka to Muslims).

On May 14th 1948 British troops left former British mandate forever.
On May 13th the desperate battle was lead in Kfar Etzion, little settlement attacked by Arab Legion. The battle (lost by Jews) was followed by the massacre of civilians and mutilating their bodies. None survived.

14th of May was Friday. As the next day, the first one after British mandate time, was Shabbat, the declaration of independance had to be draft and declared on the afternoon of the 14th as some of the officials who were to sign it were observant and objected to signing it on Saturday. The declaration started with preambule, went through historic stages of creating new state and than went to "declare the establishment of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel, to be known as the State of Israel".

The Declaration of Independance continued with assurance that Israel will be open for "the ingathering of the exiles", she would be based on "freedom, justice and peace, as envisaged by the prophets of Israel", she would foster the development of the country "for the benefit of all inhabitants", she would ensure "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhibitants, irrespective of religion, race or sex". (it was 1948, 20 years before the movement of Martin Luther King and just after the non-violent movement of Mahatma Gandhi)
It declared faithfullness to the Charter of UN (that Israel was not a member yet, obviously), and appealed to the Arabs of Israel (with still undefined borders) to "preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship". The declaration ended with an appeal to the Jewish people around the world "to rally round the Jews of the Land of Israel in the task of immigration and upbuilding, and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realisation of the age-old dream - the redemption of Israel".

Israel stayed faithful to this declaration - all the citizens, irrespectively of race, faith (or the lack of one), sex or ethnicity have the same rights. All can vote and be voted for, all can apply for the civil duty jobs etc. Just to remind (at the time when it is OK for president Abbas to declare that he wants Judenrein Palestine but many accuse Israel to be aparthaid state) - Israeli Arabs held places in Knesset, Christian places of worship are for the most part exteritorial and under the supervision of church authorities, the Supreme Court that sentenced former president Katsav for rape consisted of Arab president and 2 women judges, 20% students at Haifa university are Arabs and so on.

What also is very special, is the craving for the very own state. When the future USA first drafted Declaration of Independence it was not about UK and fighting with it - it was about craving for the new state and laying down its principles. Whem after IWW and 130 years of non-existance Poland was re-created the small constitution was about future state; when the referendum in Ireland took place in 1918 it was about creating new state - it wasn't about fighting with UK, it was joy from gaining independance. When India was declared it was again - joy for the new, finally independent country. When president Mandela stepped out of jail and later into office he looked into future and not into revange, into building the future for all, better future in South Africa. Every nation that wants their state more than destruction of the neighbours, want to work, fight (but only if necessary and under attack), live and improve their state deserves one.

Israel is wonderful, democratic country, with problems - as any others - but with the right vision.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL!!!