On May 15. 1948. when Israeli leaders proclaimed the birth of Israel and became masters of their own destiny. the portion of Palestine allotted to them by the partition plan was about 5.000 square miles. During the ArabIsraeli war of 194849 that area was increased by about 65 percent. Then. with heavy investment. intensive and scientific development of the country. the enlarged Israel was able to absorb well over 1 million immigrants. This part of Israels task. the rescuing. shipping and settling. employing and making all these refugees productive and patriotic citizens. surpassed all expectation. Today these refugees have become Israels most valuable assets. They have provided the necessary labor. and the leadership in peaceful and wartime industries. they all form the sinews of a fighting force that is considered the best in the Middle East. They have helped to make Israel an advanced industrial state. and they have been a real force in turning many desert regions into cultivable and productive lands.
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immigrants refugees