Speech #890052655

It was not until the First World War had come to a close. however. that the work of reconstructing and rebuilding could begin. As a result of the Balfour Declaration. according to the terms of which the British Government committed itself to the "establishment of a national home for the Jews" in Palestine. Jewish refugees from the war in Europe. as well as other countries of the world. were permitted to settle there. They established thriving farms. new industries. and generally began to build their life anew. Additional hundreds of thousands of refugees strove to enter the "promised land" as a result of the Nazi holocaust in Europe and the Second World War. Nevertheless. the struggle for independence was still not over: irresponsible Arab leadership as well as the opposition of the British authorities to increased immigration still had to be contended with. The historic resolution of the United Nations in 1947 which provided for an economically unified Palestine. divided into a Jewish and an Arab state. was the next to last step in the long process of once again achieving independence. When the Arab States refused to acknowledge the existence of the newly proclaimed State of Israel in May 1948. the modern Israelites once again had to defend their homeland. This time they were successful. and they have gone on from there to build one of. the most progressive and successful of the new states. I take this occasion to congratulate them on the nearly incredible achievements of these past 17 yearsa modern economy. a thriving agriculture. and the successful assimilation of hundreds of thousands of refugees from a tremendous variety of backgrounds. The Israelis deserve our compliments. and our best wishes for the future. Great Plains Conservation Program