Medinat Yisrael Is Born
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to develop the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants, in
accordance with the social ideals of our Prophets.
We declare that full civil and political liberty will be enjoyed by all citizens, regardless of religion, race or sex. There
will be full freedom of religion, culture and language. We
declare that we shall safeguard the Holy Places of all religions
within the area of the State of Israel. . . .
Even at this hour of bloodshed, we call upon the Arabs of
Palestine to restore peace in this country. We call upon the
Arab citizens to return to their homes. We assure them full
civic rights on the basis of full representation in all governmental organs of the State. We are extending the hand of
friendship to the neighboring Arab States in order to initiate
mutual co-operation. We are ready to contribute our share to
the revival of the Middle East. . . .
The assembly at the Museum Hall sang Hatikvah, the Jewish national anthem. The ceremonies were broadcast, but few
in Jerusalem heard them, because there was no electricity and
little time could be spared from the work of offense and defense. From the zone below "Bevingrad" the fighting continued. The Arab was pushed nearer, ever nearer to Jaffa Gate,
as the Jew—the once beaten, bullied Jew of old—outfought,
outmaneuvered, outwitted the Arab Goliath, on the eve of the
First Day of Independence, and on the eve of this Shabbat,
the fifth day of the month of Iyar, the year 5708 by the Hebrew calendar.
I mused on the conversations I had had with Americans of
Jewish faith who had settled in Jerusalem. I had asked each
why he had left the comfort of our country to face pioneer
hardships and even death.
"It is because America has such an abundance of everything that I have come. I shall not be missed. Here they need
me. I have come to help, to build a new country," one said.
Another, from Chicago, replied: "There are places in Amer-