On May 14th, 2008, Israel declared itself an independent nation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_government_of_Israel
On May 14th, 2008, I am beaming with pride.
I am proud to be a Jew. I am proud to be a supporter of Israel, the land of Milk and Honey.
I am proud that a nation could take uninhabitable land that nobody initially wanted, build some orange groves, and eventually become the Silicon Valley of the Middle East.
Israel is a fragile experiment in democracy. Surrounded by enemies that are technically human beings, but often fail to act like it, Israel is able to survive and thrive with dignity and toughness.
Below are some links of organizations that actually care about the survival of Israel as a Jewish state.
http://www.americanthinker.com/
http://www.israelsoldiers.org/
For those who wonder which world leaders have been best towards Israel over the last 60 years, below is a sample.
George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, Nicolas Sarkozy, Silvio Berlusconi, Ariel Sharon, Bibi Netanyahu, Yitzchak Shamir, Menachem Begin, and John Howard, and Richard Nixon, among others.
The United States House has Eric Cantor, Mark Kirk, Michelle Bachmann, the late Tom Lantos, and former Speaker Newt Gingrich, among others.
The Senate has Norm Coleman, John McCain, Joseph Lieberman, the late Henry “Scoop” Jackson, and former Senator Alphonse D’Amato, among others.
Pundits and media people include Sir Charles of Krauthammer, Victor Davis Hanson, Sean Hannity, Ralph Peters, Dennis Prager, and John Podhoretz, among others.
Below are some blogs that care deeply about Israel.
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/
http://cultureforall.blogspot.com/
http://www.masada1234.blogspot.com/
http://gunnutsrus.blogtownhall.com/
http://www.hughhewitt.blogtownhall.com/default.aspx
http://www.israelmatzav.blogspot.com/
http://www.jewishrefugees.blogspot.com/
http://j-gop.blogtownhall.com/default.aspx
http://www.neoconexpress.blogspot.com/
http://tonguesoffire.wordpress.com/
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/
http://theroguejew.blogwonks.com/
http://www.tsofah.blogspot.com/
http://wwwwakeupamericans-spree.blogspot.com/
http://www.rootforamerica.com/blog/
http://yourjewishmaster.blogspot.com/
There are a million things I want to say, but I am truly overcome with emotion.
Israel now and Israel forever.
Jews are here to stay. We are good people, and we will never leave this Earth.
May God bless the State of Israel and Jews everywhere.
60 years from now, I may still be among the living. I might have my sight and my hearing.
I will have my dignity.
I will also finally be putting my money where my mouth is 3 months from now. In August of 2008 I will be taking my very first trip to the Holy Land. From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, I will be there.
Hineni. Here I am. I am proud to be a Jew, and proud to stand with Israel.
Happy 60th Israel. May the next 60 years bring joy, love, and security that allows for a true peace.
Shalom.
eric
Happy Anniversary Israel, and good luck – to all of us. We’re all going to need it.
JMJ
Jersey.
God forbid you ever end a comment on a positive note.
Israel didnt get where its at by luck.
Trust me.
Eric.
Enjoy this day for all you can. I’m just as proud for you.
Micky, Israel wouldn’t even exist today were it not for about the worst luck any people on the face of the Earth have ever faced. And it was Christian Europeans that did it to them.
JMJ
And what does that have to do with today? What does it have to do with that fact that Christian Europeans and North Americans have helped protect the Jewish state for the last 60 years?
Before the Palestinian Question, there was the Jewish Question. After WWII, Jewish refugees were being turned away from America and the British Commonwealth nations. But these states weren’t keen on the Zionist idea either, especially the Brits. It took the brilliant diplomatic efforts of people like Abba Eban to assuage their concerns and even allow the Israeli immigration to begin. Remember, oil was now king, and the relations bewteen the Arab states and the West was more important than ever before. These states did not want a new Israel either. So the tensions and conflicts of interest were there from the start. Just as we aided Israeli and armed them, we were aiding and arming their sworn enemies, and most always have. And when the Palestinian refugees attempted to take over Jordan, which may well have brought peace to the region, we in the West backed the Jordanian monarchy. We helped to create the Pasetinian football game, kicking them around from place to place and instilling a permanent culture of violence and despair. The Europeans have been all over the field in this game. It’s not as simple as ‘who helps who now.’ Take the recent phenomena of Fundamentalist American Christians suddenly falling in love with Israel and pushing for extremist expansion. Is this really for the interest of the Jews, or is this just the self-interest of religious fanatics who really couldn’t care less about the Jewish people? Again, it’s not as simple as your questions suggest.
JMJ
The U.S. should stop trying to be “even-handed” in the Middle East. They should support Israel against their neighbors in no uncertain terms. Democracy is the “only” solution to world chaos. The legal definition of “sovereignty” needs to be redefined to exclude dictatorships. Unfortunately, American Jews do not support those conservative values that keep Israel free and independent. The United Nations is part of the problem; not the solution. There is also a “birth rate” problem among Jews. Their numbers are declining for any number of reasons. This trend must be reversed.
Eric:
May the joy you feel continue on and on! I, too, am happy to see Israel’s 60th Anniversary in the present day. (Although Israel is thousands of years old in reality – smile)
How I wish I were going to Jerusalem! There is no place else on earth like Israel. There is no place in Israel like Jerusalem! When I went to Israel eight years ago, during the Intifada, I did not get to go to Hebron, Masada, or the Galilee and Gamla. Take in everything, and if possible, visit the tombs of the prophets and of Kalev and Joshua. Pinch yourself everyonce in awhile to remind yourself it’s not a dream. (wistful sigh! smile)
As you are aware, for decades I’ve been one who supports and prays for Israel.
It was a U.S. President who changed the expected outlook for Israel as a country (state) recognized by the U.N. That president was Harry S Truman. The prior president, Roosevelt, had promised Prince Faisal and other Arab nations he would not support the establishment of Israel. President Truman, however, went against members of his own cabinet, some of which resigned as a result.
So, here’s a kudo’s to an American President who counted the cost, and did what was right anyway. Thanks, Harry! Thanks for doing that which pleased the Lord.
JMJ:
“Micky, Israel wouldn’t even exist today were it not for about the worst luck any people on the face of the Earth have ever faced.”
What ?
If i’m correct the Jews have been fighting their hides off on order to maintain their small place on earth.
Luck ?
(have another one)
I’d call being Jewish in 1930’s Germany pretty bad luck, Micky.
That’s why Israel exists today. It’s right, it’s their’s, they deserve it. They just have yet, after 60 long years, to figure out a tenable way to make it safe. And I hope the Palestinians finally grow up and put together a truly honorable and sympathetic national movement. What they have now, as I read in The Nation this week, is “fighting like two cocks on a garbage heap.” And that’s between themselves! I read a post here earlier about “democracy.” Well, pal, look it what it gave Palestine. There’s a time and a place for everything, including democracy.
JMJ
You know what ?
I think everything went right over your head.
Todays post is a celebration of today.
And where the Jews are at ” TODAY” has nothing to do with luck.
Look at the posts above and maybe you’ll get a clue.
People are congratulating Eric and wishing him a happy celebration of an event that is definatley attributed to a lot of hard work.
But Nooooooooooooooooooo.
You gotta come in here with a bunch of nay saying that is basically the equivalent of pissing on someones birthday cake.
Drop the history lesson with all your bias attachments for one day.
Yom Kuledet Sameach (I hope that’s a good transliteration)
The reasons the Palestinians don’t like Israel is because of the British who didn’t let anymore Jewish refugees into there country during WWII. Palestine was under British rule, and so the British sent them there. But we are celebrating a place that Jews can call their own, and where those in trouble or danger can go to as their homeland. Every other religion has a place in the world to call their own. But the conflict is not over religion. That’s what we must remember. Happy 60th!
Yaaaay G-d! He caused the impossible to happen! For “a nation to be built in a day”!!!
Israel is not only a sign of hope for the Jews: it is a sign of G-d’s continual watchfulness over mankind, and His Chosen!
I praise Him for His faithfulness!
Thanks for the link list, eric. I didn’t have some of them.