DATE=04/16/2002

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-09826

TITLE=EDITORIAL: ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

INTERNET=YES

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions:

Voice: This week, the people of Israel are celebrating their country's fifty-fourth anniversary as a sovereign state. Israel proclaimed its independence on May 14th, 1948, according to the conventional calendar. But by the Hebrew calendar, the anniversary comes on April 17th this year.

The creation of a homeland in the area where Jews had lived in Biblical times was a dream for many centuries. This dream became a necessity after six-million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

But as early as 1917, Britain promised to provide for a Jewish homeland in the Middle Eastern "mandate" territory it took over from Turkey during the First World War. In 1946, the area east of the Jordan River became the kingdom of Jordan. And on November 29th, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution saying that the smaller area west of the Jordan should be partitioned into Jewish and Arab states.

When Britain withdrew on May 14th, 1948, Israel declared its independence. But it was immediately attacked by its Arab neighbors. An armistice was negotiated in 1949, but war broke out again in 1956, 1967, and 1973. In the late 1970s, with United States encouragement, Egypt and Israel made peace. In 1994, Jordan and Israel made peace. And in the mid-1990s, a process was established aimed at bringing peace between Israelis and Palestinians. But to this day, most Arab states have refused to recognize Israel. Indeed, maps used in Palestinian schools do not even show the state of Israel.

In recent months, Israel has been the victim of many murderous acts of terrorism by Palestinians, including dozens of suicide bombings. In an effort to halt the terrorism, Israeli forces have moved back into areas previously turned over to Palestinian control. Along with other countries, the U.S. has urged Israel to withdraw.

Over the past half century, the Israeli people have built a prosperous democracy in their homeland. Americans hope that one day the same will be true of the Palestinians. The U.S., the U-N, and Israel have endorsed the principle of two states -- Israel and Palestine -- where two peoples can live side-by-side in peace and security. Americans will continue to support that goal.

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting American ideals and institutions. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-ibb-dot-gov-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.