Page Six
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Story of Israel's
1st Year as State
H
ERE IS A chronological history of Israel's first . year as a State:
May 14, 1948 (the fifth day of Iyar, 5708): The British mandate
expired and Israel was proclaimed an independent, sovereign State.
The White Paper, which since 1939 had barred the entry of Jews
to Palestine, was declared null and void and with it all other re-
strictive measures of the Mandatory regime were abolished.
Ten minutes after Israel's declaration of independence, Presi-
dent Truman announced that the United States recognized the new
State de facto. Guatemala's recognition followed immediately.
Palestine was invaded by the armies of Egypt, Transjordan,
Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
The 'United Nations deckled to send a mediator to Palestine.
May 16: Dr. Chaim Weizmann was elected president of the Pro-
visional Council of the government of Israel.
May 20: Count Folke Bernadotte, of Sweden, was nominated for
the post of UN mediator.
May 21: The Israeli air force made its fighting debut, striking at
Gaza and Shufat. •
•
•
•
•
May 16: The siege of Jerusalem began.
June 14: The first Security Council truce brought to a close one
month of fighting during which Israel's embryo army fought
the five Arab 'invasion armies to a standstill on all fronts.
June 30: The last British soldier left Palestine, ending 30 years
of British occupation of that country.
July 9: The first UN truce came to an end with the Arabs first
to resume firing. Israeli forces quickly counter-attacked, sweep-
ing Egyptian, Iraqi and Transjordan forces from Lydda, Lydda
Airport, Ramie and Ras el Ain, destroying the only Arab
spearhead toward Tel Aviv.
July 18: The second UN truce began while Arab forces were
falling back on all fronts.
July 31: The Israeli government announced that despite the war,
17,266 immigrants arrived in the country during the month
of July and 16 new settlements were set up between May 15
and July I.
•
•
♦
Sept. 17: Count Bernadotte and Colonel Serot orthe United Nations
were assassinated in Jerusalem.
Sept. 18: Dr. Ralph Bunche was appointed acting UN mediator.
Oct. 7: Fighting resumed in the Negev following an Egyptian attack
in violation of the truce.
Oct. 21. The Israeli army captured Beersheba, largest Negev town.
Oct. 22: The first Security Council Negev cease-fire order went into
effect.
Nov. 16: The Security Council, meeting in Paris, adopted A resolu-
tion calling on both sides to meet "with a view to reaching
an armistice agreement." -
Nov. 18: The Israeli government announced that 101,000 immigrants
had arrived in Israel since Nov. 29, 1997, the date of the UN
partition resolution.
Dec. 7: The Israelis revealed the existence of the "Courage Road"
carved with backbreaking labor as a side door to besieged
Jerusalem.
•
•
•
Dec. 11: The United Nations, having steadfastly refused to adopt
the British-sponsored Bernadotte Plan, which would have forced
the Jews to yield the Negev in exchange for western Galilee,
approved a resolution urging Jews and Arabs to seSe t, Ii ith
the help of a three-power UN Conciliation Commiss
outstanding questions between them.
Jan. 13, 1949: Israeli-Egyptian armistice talks began at Rhodes.
Jan. 25: The first general elections in Israel were held. Nearly a
half million voters went to the polls to cast ballots for a 120
member Knesset (Constituent Assembly).
Feb. 14.17: Knesset holds first session in Jerusalem. Dr. Weizmann
elected Israel's first president.
Feb. 24: Israel and Egypt signed the first armistice of the Palestine
war.
March 1: Israeli-Lebanese armistice talks began at Has el Nakura.
March 4: The Security Council approved Israel's application for
membership in the UN.
March 23: 'Israel and Lebanon signed armistice.
March 29: Turkey became the first Moslem country to recognize
Israel, already recognized by about 50 nations.
•
•
•
April 3: Israel and Transjordan signed an armistice at Rhodes.
April-6: -Israel and Syria began armistice talks. •
- •
April 18: The Israeli government appointed a delegation, - headed
by Dr. Walter Eytan, secretary general of the Foreign Office;
to meet -with -Arab delegates for a general peace conference
at Lausanne, Switzerland.
May 4 (the fifth day of Iyar, 5709): Jews in Israel and the world
over marked the first anniversary of Israeli independence. Is-
raeli government announces immigration has reached peak
average of nearly 1,000 persons a day.
Building Program
in Israel Disclosed
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Israel Spurs Industry;
Housing Big Problem
TEL AVIV — The momentous
military and political events
which marked Israel's first year
of natiphood were paralleled by
steady progress in the develop-
ment of the new State's business
and industry.
The Israelis have, of necessity,
concentrated on the establish-
ment of new agricultural settle-
ments to develop arid lands and
populate strategic heights and
frontier areas. But at the same
time there has been an upsurge
in the industrial and business
life of the country.
PLAN TAX SLASH
In the face of the tremendous
absorption problem posed by im-
migrants pouring into the coun-
try daily, the Israeli government
early recognized the importance
of encouraging the investment of
foreign capital. At the moment,
The government is considering a
program of legislation designed
to reduce or remove taxes on
the importation of capital goods
and in other ways to lure the
foreign investor.
At the moment, housing is Is-
rael's No. 1 economic problem.
The government, in cooperation
with the Jewish Agency, has set
up a housing corporation of am-
bitious size.
AN OPEN FIELD
But it is recognized that na-
tional funds alone cannot do the
job, and the economic depart-
-
TEL AVIV—(WNS)--The aus-
terity program, submitted to the
Knesset by the minister of ra-
tioning, Dr. Dov Joseph, has pre-
cipitated a sharp national debate.
The program, calling for rigid
control of the country's economy,
was attacked on the floor of the
Knesset by Dr. Fritz Berpstein,
leader of the General Zionists,
and Uri Zvi Greenberg, repre-
senting the Freedom Movement.
Several newspapers criticized
the government for having pre-
sented the plan without prior
notice and insufficient details.
The program was presented after
Premier Ben Gurion cautioned
the Knesset that Israel's present
cost of living was "threatening
and sabotaging all prospects of
immigration and development."
Under the plan the government
will control, through licensing, all
import and export trade channels,
regulate factories and workshops
and fix prices on all basic com-
modities.
A demonstration, demanding
employment and housing, was
held by several hundred immi-
grants in front of the Knesset
and government offices. There
was no disorder.
ruent of the Jewish Agency,
created to encourage and guide
private investment in Israel, has
declared that the building. field
is an especially encouraging one
for the investor.
The economic department, with
sections operating in New York
and in Jerusalem, reports that
more than 100 industrial proj-
ects, totaling $37,000,000, are at
various stages of completion.
These projects will bring to
Israel, when they are consumated,
new hotels, new or enlarged ce-
ment, cosmetic and leather fac-
tories, a rolling mill, an ice plant,
and a host of other enterprises
ranging from the manufacture of
underwear to the canning of
NEW YORK—Israel is in the
foods.
midst of a "very dangerous situa-
NEEDS ARE LISTED
tion" which may become even
Now on tile in the Jerusalem more aggravated unless Ameri-
office of the department are re- can Jews providosodequate funds
quests for American capital for for housing and other indispens-
investment in the following spe- able needs required by the influx
cific production lines: Bicycles, of 25,000 immigrants a month,
asbestos sheet, electrical appli- Judge Mortis Rothenberg, acting
ances, prefab housing; shoes and national chairman of the United
tanning extract, aluminum, glass, Palestine Appeal, warned Wed-
book matches, musical recordings, nesday in a Message on the first
rayon and nylon underwear and anniversary of the Jewish State.
office supplies.
Stressing that "our enthusiasm
Israeli officials hope eventually 1 must be somewhat tempered by
to transform the country into a the recognition of the fact that the
Switzerland of the Middle East year-old State faces tremendous
—a land which will more than tasks of absorbing tens of thou-
make up for its limited natural sands of homecorners." Judge
resources by the superiority of Rothenberg disclosed that the re-
its workmanship and techniques, sources of UPA agencies charged
both in industry and agriculture. with aiding Israel's immigration
and resettlement program, are ex-
hausted.
"One of the UPA constituent
bodies, the Jewish Agency for
•
Palestine," he said. "is stagger-
ing under a heavy deficit. In fact,
NEW YORK (Special)—Israel "You must remember there has so great is the need for funds that
is "economically a going concern" been a blockade against them the Jewish Agency, since mid-
and her economic difficulties are which is only now being lifted. March, has been operating on a
an "inevitable" result of the war From the very date of their proc- basis of excess expenditures over
in Palestine, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, lamation of existence, they have income of three to four million
UN mediator said at a press con- been fighting a battle of survival dollars a week."
ference.
Only pow is there a chance to
Dr. Bunche was awarded Ate organize on a normal economic
MOSHAV
N. Y. Town Hall Distinguished basis.
Moshav is the Hebrew word for
Public Service Award. It has only
"Arab fears may have been ex- a cooperative farm settlement.
been given once before, to Vice- aggerated. In part, they are sin-
President Alben W. Barkley.
cere and Israeli policy will de-
CITES SHORTAGES
termine whether the Arabs are I
Commenting on protest demon- reassured."
strations in Tel Aviv by unem-
ployed immigrants and the new
Serving the Best Kosher
Israeli austerity program. Bunche
Meats and Poultry . . .
said Isr'ael 41as "grave shortages
of materials and goods, aggravat-
ed by the influx of immigrants
and high prices—conditions fa-
miliar to us as the economic after-
math of war.
"Like any state," he said, "Is-
rael cou,ld use much more curren-
Max Finkel
cy than she has, but the Israelis
Dave
'Hoshkovitz
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are doing pretty well.' They are
better off with hard currency
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Israel Debates
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raeli ministry of labor and re=
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The Israel Corporation of Amer-
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NEW YORK—The town-plan- nomic upbuilding of Israel
ning program of Israel will be through private investments.
based on the assumption that the
population will exceed 2.000.000
within the next 10 years, Anatole
Solow, American town and coun-
try expert, revealed in a blue-
print submitted to the Israel
Corporation of America.
Solow was invited by the Is-
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.TR. 1-1948