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Letter from President Katzav

May 03, 2006

Message from the President of The State of Israel Mr. Moshe Katsav to the Jewish Communities in the Diaspora on the Occasion of the 58th Independence Day

My Dear Friends,

Since the Jewish people renewed its independence and established a Jewish and democratic state in Israel in 1948, we have known many wars and much terror, and economic and social hardships. Nevertheless, the State of Israel is now a leading country in the fields of science, technology, research and development. It serves as an example to many countries in the world and has gained wide respect internationally.

In 1948, the Yishuv in the Land of Israel numbered 600,000 Jews and at present Israel’s population stands at 7 million people. We absorbed millions of new immigrants from the countries of Islam and from the Communist Bloc, and we provided all with housing, education, social security and health services.

In the last years we have taken historical steps towards the Palestinians and, during these years, they attained achievements unprecedented in their history. Nor would this have been the end of their achievements had they not decided to stop the political process and chosen to return to terrorism and bloodshed.

During these years more Israelis were killed by Palestinian terrorism than in the 50 years since the establishment of the State.

Regrettably, the Palestinians voted for a Hamas government in elections which were not democratic and in violation of the Oslo Agreements. They chose an organization, which was declared by Europe and the United States to be a terrorist organization. The Hamas government declares that it will continue to support terrorism, it refuses to recognize the right of existence of the State of Israel and it refuses to honor the international obligations of the Palestinians, given by their leaders since the Oslo Agreements.

We aim for peace. We have proved this in the past and we will continue in our struggle for the security of the State of Israel and to attain peace with all our neighbors.

Israeli democracy has proved its strength and its ability to confront and to take difficult decisions.

Israel’s economy is based on strong foundations which lead to growth and we have attained economic achievements. We must act more intensively to protect the weaker strata in Israeli society.

We look forward to the day when we can commit our human and scientific resources to solving the real problems of humanity: the fight against disease, the struggle against poverty and natural disaster, instead of committing them to the fight against terrorism, destruction and ruin.

I am proud of the solidarity of the Jewish communities in the Diaspora with Israel. It is incumbent upon us to strengthen the values of Judaism, which are universal values, to strengthen unity among our people and to strengthen the bond to nationhood, religion and country.

I wish all the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora a Happy Independence Day, the attainment of our national aims and the fulfillment of the prayers and wishes of the Jewish people throughout the generations, to live in peace and security, with economic wellbeing and social justice.

Yours sincerely,

Moshe Katsav

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