STATE OF ISRAEL FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Reverend the Hon. F. J. NILE [4.39 p.m.]: I wish to extend to the people of Israel my best wishes on the fiftieth anniversary of the State of Israel. The Legislative Assembly has passed the following resolution moved by the Premier, Mr Carr, and I am sure this House would agree with it:
That this House joins with the Jewish Community of New South Wales in extending congratulations to the people of Israel and their Parliament, the Knesset, on the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel.
The State of Israel was born from the flames of conflict. On 14 May 1948 in the Museum Hall in Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion, the leader of the Jewish people in Palestine, proclaimed the independence of the State of Israel. That followed the British Government’s announcement on 8 February 1947 that it would no longer uphold the mandate of Palestine which Britain had administered since 1920. The British Government said it would withdraw its forces from Palestine on 15 May 1948. The Israel forces that sought independence had been involved in a bloody conflict with the British occupying forces who were endeavouring to carry out their obligations. Many bombings and tragic events took place at that time.
On 29 November 1947 the United Nations General Assembly voted for the partition of Palestine, and Australia’s vote and support was a significant contribution. The United Nations resolution stipulated the creation of two States in the mandated territory of Palestine: one Jewish and one Arab. But right from the beginning the Arab States refused to accept that resolution. The decision of their leaders caused hardship to the Arab Palestinian population, many of whom gathered their belongings and went into exile. That was the beginning of the large refugee camps, out of which much trouble, strife and bloodshed resulted. The United States of America played a key role and still continues to show leadership. It has been reported that one of the leaders of the Zionist cause sought the support of the President of the United States of America, Harry Truman. In a letter to the president he said:
The choice of our people, Mr President, is between statehood and extermination. History and providence have placed this issue in your hands, and I am confident that you will yet decide it, in the spirit of moral law.
The United States support was vital to the declaration of independence and to the formation of the State of Israel. The Israelis were pleased with this miraculous act of regeneration and rebirth after the shocking experiences of World War II and the treatment of German Jews and Jews in many other European nations under the persecution and policy of the nazis to exterminate the Jewish race. This led to the estimation that up to six million Jews died in what we call the Holocaust.
The rebirth of Israel also brought great joy both to Jews who had been living in Australia for some time and to those who had come to Australia as refugees at the end of World War II. For a small nation Israel has made significant achievements.
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Today it is home to five million Jews and one million Israeli Arabs. It has proved its strength in numerous wars. The Arab world is no longer uniformly hostile, and for all its difficulties the peace process seems likely to succeed. I understand that the Prime Minister of Israel and President Arafat have accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Blair to meet to discuss how to ensure ongoing peace in that part of the Middle East. [Time expired.]