Page 30-Supplement to The Jewish News-March 16. 1973
Principal Achievements
Achievements of the
State of Israel, 1948-1973
A. General and Foreign Policy
1. Founding of the State (May 14, 1948).
2. Defeat of the invading Arab States (1948-1949).
3. Admission to the United Nations and forging of
political links (1948./49).
4. Fostering contacts with new and developing States
in Africa and Asia (1955 onwards).
5. Israel ties with the European Common Market.
6. Policy of the "Open Bridges - -over 150,000 Arabs
from Arab States visited Israel in 1972.
B. Security
1. Defensive action against terrorist operations and
destruction of terrorist bases in Sinai (1955-1956).
2. Defensive action against a threat of invasion by the
Arab States-the Six-Day War (1967).
3. A people's democratic army, of high military and
technical standard, is solidly based.
C. Aliya
1. Absorption of 1,500,000 immigrants from all coun-
tries in the world.
2. Closure of European refugee camps, delivery of
displaced persons throughout Europe, and their trans-
fer to Israel (1948-1950).
3. Transfer to Israel of the majority of the Jews of
the Middle East and North Africa (1949 onwards).
4. Absorption of every immigrant who managed to es-
cape from the East European countries from 1948.
D. Demography and Standard of Living
1. A rise in the population from 900,000 at the end
of 1948 to over 3,000,000 in 1972,
2. Assurance of full employment for all that seek work.
3. A rise of more than 250 per cent in the average
standard of living (1950-1970),
4. A considerable decline in housing congestion-from
2.2 persons per room in 1959 to 1.58 in 1970.
5. Practically every family has an electric refrigerator,
a gas stove, a radio and a TV set (1972),
6. The standard of living of the minorities has gone
up in parallel to that of the Jews.
7. Systems of medical and social insurance,
E. Education and Culture
1. Almost total elimination of illiteracy, together with
a generally higher level of education.
2. A Compulsory Education Law, embracing every boy
and girl between 5 and 15 years of age.
3. Seven universities with a total of 40,000 students.
4. Development of a range of theaters and orchestras.
5. Publication of 2.000 books annually (1970),
6. Teaching Hebrew to newcomers in ulpanim.
7. Development of special 'enrichment' programmes
for children from less forward strata.
F. Health
1. Eradicating disease - tuberculosis, trachoma and
so on.
2, A rise in life expectancy, females from 67.9 to 73.3
years, males from 65.2 to 69.8 years (1950-1970).
G. Settlement
1. Hundreds of new villages founded (1948-1972).
2. 26 new development towns established (1949-1972).
3. Reunification of Jerusalem and development (1967).
4. A new city created in Ashdod,
5. The third generation in the kibutzim, industrialization.
(Continued to Page 31)
HISTORY WAS MADE 25 YEARS AGO
We can make history today.
Ever since Israel was born in the anguish of
crisis 25 years after the world was shaken by the
destruction of 6,000,000 Jews under Hitler, it
has held fast to a dream as a land of liberty and
a haven where Jews can live in dignity and free-
dom. There were always the Jeremiahs of despair
who pointed to the dim prospects of survival in
a surrounding sea of hostility. Yet despite all
trials, three wars and enormous economic and
human burdens. Israel has continued to live and
grow, to redeem out of 2.000 years of yearning,
the vital substance of rebirth and revival.
It is hoped that this year will bring a greater
possibility of a peace settlement in the long torn
and scarred Middle East. Years of conflict can
turn to years of greater achaivement as Israel
celebrates the 25th anniversary of its independ-
ence.
There are few countries that can point to the
steady rate of growth that has marked Israel's
progress over its first quarter-century. A popu-
lation of 650.000 when the state was born on
Max- 14, 1948, now has passed 3,000,000 and is
well on the way to 4,000,000. Gross national
product reached $6 billion in 1972 and rises at
a rate of 9 per cent annually.
And at a time when the nation is obliged to
maintain an extremely costly defense budget
(1.6 billion in 1973) it absorbs a swelling tide
of freedom-seeking immigrants from Soviet Rus-
sia and other countries. Last year immigration
rose to 56,000 out of which 32,000 came from
Soviet Russia. This year the influx from Russia
is expected to increase to 35,000 and may go as
high as 45.000, with the accompanying task of
creating job opportunities for them.
Israel is determined to meet her obligations
to her brother Jews, but at the same time she
must rely upon us for assistance. This throws a
dramatic light on the role Israel Bonds has played.
The Israel Bond program, established in 1951,
has provided in a large part for the development
of Israel's industry and agriculture, construction
of roads, irrigation systems, oil pipelines, electric
power installations and harbors. Now a major
thrust of the program is to help in the smooth
absorption of immigrants, the expansion of ec-
onomic opportunities for the disadvantaged sec-
tor, the building of new cities, and the mainten-
ance of Israel's economic strength so that no
enemy may conquer it.
Since the inception of the Israel Bond cam-
paign some $2.2 billion in investment funds has
been raised. In 1973 the campaign has set a goal
of $360,000,000 compared to the record total of
$270,404,750 sold in 1972.
History was made 25 years ago with the
establishment of the State of Israel. We can make
history today by buying a bigger Israel bond
than ever before to help Israel build a better
future in peace and progress.
David Pollack
Gen. Chair., Det. Israel Bond Comm.