Yom Ha'atzmaut:
Embassy of Israel
Thursday, April 26, 2001Fellow Ambassadors, Secretary Principi, Distinguished Members of Congress, Deputy Secretary of State Armitage, honored guests.
I am delighted that you have joined us in celebrating the independence of the State of Israel. As we embark upon the fifty-fourth year of our modern nation, we are overcome with great emotion.
Today we are filled with a profound sense of joy and gratitude for the establishment and perseverance of the Jewish State.
We are proud of what we have achieved. The establishment of the only democracy in the Middle East. The development of one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. The cultivation of a diverse and thriving society.
At the same time, we are deeply grateful to those who have stood by our side through tragedy and triumph. The American Jewish community, successive Administrations, and the United States Congress.
Our joy, however, is incomplete. Our struggle for peace, security, and recognition has not ended. We continue to pay a heavy price for our right to exist as a Jewish nation.
From here, we send our best wishes to the brave soldiers of the IDF. To the wounded, we wish a speedy recovery. To the families of the fallen, our hearts and prayers are with you.
And to the residents of Northern Israel, Gilo, Netanya, Kfar Saba, Or Yehuda, and Sderot, we wish you courage and strength.
We are a small country, and our hearts are one. We feel the pain inflicted by each and every loss of life, and share in the hardship of families affected by incidents of terror.
With us today are Miriam and Yona Baumel. The parents of Zacharia, who has been missing in action in Lebanon since 1982. We pray for him and the other missing soldiers, as we anxiously await their safe return.
Indeed, we have endured a long struggle. Israel emerged from the ashes of the Holocaust to restore a homeland to the Jewish people, a sense of belonging to the Jewish soul, and vigor to Jewish civilization. Israel is Jewish continuity.
We have ingathered the exiles. We have embraced millions of Jews hailing from more than one hundred countries, speaking over eighty different languages.
In the last decade alone, we have welcomed more than one million new immigrants- an additional one-fifth of our population.We have revived ancient Hebrew, created a vibrant democracy, and re-established the Jewish national home after two thousand years of diaspora.
We have made the desert bloom. We have built well over one thousand cities, towns, moshavim, and kibbutzim out of sand dunes, swamps, and ancient ruins.
We stand at the forefront of medical, educational, and scientific innovation. And we have created a first class high-tech industry, extending from Tel Aviv to Silicon Valley.
Most importantly, we have united the city of Jerusalem. The eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish people.
Israel has emerged from the shadows of the Holocaust into the light of possibilities. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, our potential is enormous.
These accomplishments could not have been attained without the unwavering support of the United States of America. For over half a century, our unique relationship has reflected our shared ideals, values, and interests.
The United States and Israel will forever remain partners in ensuring democracy and freedom for all. As together we work for the well being of our people, and the betterment of humanity.
We are determined to restore the security of Israel through the unity of Israel. We are committed to laying the foundation for a genuine and lasting peace. For our future, for our children, and for generations to come.
In the words of Theodore Herzl, "if you will it, it is no dream." Our recent history is a testament to this idea. The Zionist vision has been transformed into the reality of Israel.
We have replanted the seeds of human dignity and cultivated them with the sweat and tears of dedication and remembrance. We have proven that the might of a people does not lie in numbers, but in the will and spirit of a nation. As embodied in the words of our national anthem, we are truly a "free people in our own land."
Let us reflect on the Israel that we all know, the Israel behind the headlines. The rich tapestry of culture, Jewish tradition, and natural beauty.
The essence of our unique country is captured in the face of every child and in the spirit of every young solider. It echoes throughout the landscape, and emanates from nature. From the depths of the Dead Sea, to the top of Masada. From the green of the Galilee, to the wild gold of the desert. And from the glittering shores of Tel Aviv, to the stone walls of Jerusalem.
We are a unique and wonderful country, and we are only fifty-three years young.
On behalf of the State of Israel, I would like to thank all of you for joining us in our celebration. Let me conclude by raising my glass to the American people, and the great friendship between our two nations. L'Chaim.
