65 Years

Marc R. Stanley — April 16, 2013 – 2:32 pm | Barack Obama | Israel Comments (0) Add a comment

Our hearts go out to our fellow Americans and to our NJDC family and friends in Boston who were impacted by yesterday’s horrific terrorist attack. We pray for the attack’s perpetrators to be brought to justice, and know that the Boston community will recover quickly and be stronger than ever.

Even as our hearts are in Boston, today marks the 65th anniversary of Israel’s founding along with the beginning of the U.S.-Israel relationship. From President Harry Truman recognizing the newly-declared Jewish state to President Barack Obama working to provide for Israel’s security, a proud tradition of bipartisan support for Israel exists in the Oval Office. As President Obama affirmed on his trip to Israel last month:

[T]he dream of true freedom finally found its full expression in the Zionist idea—to be a free people in your homeland. That’s why I believe that Israel is rooted not just in history and tradition, but also in a simple and profound idea—the idea that people deserve to be free in a land of their own….

Those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting Israel’s right to exist might as well reject the earth beneath them and the sky above, because Israel is not going anywhere. Today, I want to tell you ... that so long as there is a United States of America, Ah-tem lo lah-vahd. You are not alone.

Since returning home, the President has acted on his words to secure Israel’s future by ensuring that Israel’s aid—including vital missile defense funding— remains undisturbed during a time of budgetary reductions; authorizing discussions on a new security assistance agreement; and dispatching Secretary of State John Kerry to help lay the foundation for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

On Israel’s 65th birthday, the Jewish people have much to be thankful for—the existence of a strong and democratic Jewish state, control over own destiny, and the unwavering support of the world’s most powerful leader.

Marc R. Stanley is NJDC’s Chairman. 

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