Editor's Letter A Bond Worth Sustaining 0 n Nov. 29, 1947, President Harry Truman boldly told world leaders at the United Nations that America sup- ports creation of a modern Jewish state in Palestine. It was "a resounding and unapologetic proclamation that was heard around the globe American Israel Public Affairs Committee President Lee Rosenberg said last week on behalf of the American Jewish community at a Washington event hosted by Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. The event celebrated Israel's 62nd year of independence (5 Iyar), certain- ly an incredible milestone given the embattled nature of the Middle East. "I had faith in Israel before it was created:' Truman told the U.N. "I believe it has a glorious future before it — not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization:' By U.S. standards, Israel is the only true representative democracy in the region and unquestionably our closest and most enduring and advantageous ally there. It's a strategic partner in the pursuit to slow Iran's nuclear arms hopes. The bond resonates despite the current unsettling standoff between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and American President Barack Obama. The U.N. General Assembly voted to partition the British Mandate of Palestine and carve out a Jewish state in the wake of the Holocaust. On May 14, 1948, the people of Israel declared the creation of the sovereign and independent State of Israel; the U.S. government extended full diplomatic relations to the fledgling Jewish state. At long last, Theodor Herzl's Zionist dream, conceived at the First Zionist Congress in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland, was fulfilled. Establishing Roots At the outset, Israel sought to extend olive branches to Arabs within the new state, giving them full and equal citizen- ship and representation, and to neighboring states and their peoples in the search for a better Middle East. Israelis sought diaspora Jews "to rally around the immigration and develop- ment and to stand by them in the great struggle for the fulfill- ment of the age-old dream — the redemption of Israel." The struggle still rages. There's a reason we solemnly observed Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, on Sunday night, then turned imme- diately to Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, on Monday night: It was to affirm the strong, unshakable bridge between the heroes who gave their lives in defense of our beloved ancestral homeland and Israelis today who yearn to live fruitfully despite the risk of living in a region often hostile to Zionism and Jews. The modern state is now 7.4 million residents strong, 75 percent of whom are Jews. It's rooted in the historic king- dom of Israel that emerged in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) more than 3,200 years ago with Jerusalem as its eternal capital; Jews have lived here continuously since Joshua's con- quest of the land. Wonderful Growth Buoyed by its inspiring heritage, Israel has stirred a thriving economic, political, cultural and intellectual life despite war, terror and boycotts. Israel is home to major universities, an advanced high-tech industry and significant research and development in the field of renewable energy. Innovation and know-how are bywords. Israel has produced nine Nobel Prize winners. It provides humanitarian aid, search-and-rescue teams, mobile hospitals and other emergency hospitals to help victims of disaster the world over. It has absorbed millions of Jews from countries around the world. We celebrate the historic miracle of the Jewish people's survival and the modern miracle of Israel's democratic prin- ciples and practices despite unremitting attempts by Arab and Muslim terrorists to destroy the Jewish nature of the state and claim the land for themselves. Israel's quest for peace with her neighbors is so ingrained that it crosses political, ethnic and religious lines. But Israelis and Jews should never take the Israeli government for grant- ed. Corruption unfortunately is no stranger to Israeli politics. On the battlefront, Israeli overzealousness has been uncov- ered, but is very unusual and is quickly addressed. Rich Rewards The benefit of the U.S.-Israel alliance indeed is incalcu- lable. At the U.N., a house of horrors, no nation has stood with us more consistently than Israel. After 9-11, as both nations sought traction in the war on terror and Islamism, Israel unflinch- ingly stood up to be the outpost of American interests in an anti-Israel/ anti-West danger zone. Israel shares with us its fighting expertise, protec- tive armor and intelligence. Israel's amazing string of successes, where defeat at any turn could have doomed this fragile crucible of liberty, must not overshadow the unfulfilled dreams of peace and hope sung about in Hatikvah, as AIPAC's Lee Rosenberg stressed. Rosenberg, a Chicago native, aptly caught the spirit of Yom HaAtzmaut: "We will work tirelessly to ensure that the bonds, eternally forged by President Truman 62 years ago, will be strengthened so that when we meet again to celebrate Israel's 63rd year of independence, we can say the United States and Israel remain standing, as always, stead- fast — together." I pray the profound political gaps between these two nations with most of the world's Jews somehow are closed before they become irreparably damaging to any new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. President Obama holds the next move in a high-stakes duel that will sharply influence Israel's fate. ❑ r--- Is Israel's dream of a peace 1tn 'XI that lingers achievable? Z Z: Can President Obama kindle 0 ° a true peace process? a. 0- arc A I ELAST FIFTH THIRD BANK We went from slamming doors to opening doors. JARC's Respite Program has allowed us to start living life again. Before Respite, ordinary outings would be out of the question. Now they are everyday occurrences. Jayden's laughter and smiles tell the whole story. Lisa, Jayden's Mother SpringElation is the major source of funding forjARC's Merle and Shirley Harris Children and Family Division, which serves more than 450 families with children with any disability, including those with developmental delays, on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities. May 27, 2010 6 - 9 PM A Private ARC Evening At The Detroit Zoo! AU Inclusive Tickets $25 Each Age 2 and Under Free! — TICKETS ONLINE! www.jarc.org For Sponsorship and Additional Information: Carol Kaczander 248.538.6610 x 343 or carotkaczander@jarc.org ar Enriching Lives. Erasing Barriers. April 22 • 2010 5