Israel is Turning 65 - A Reflection of History as Viewed From 1968 and My Own Historical (Limited) Knowledge

In addition to understanding my religion, I would like to eventually learn Hebrew but I need to learn about Israel.  Certainly, growing up in a Jewish Detroit suburb, I knew of Israel, but I knew very little about Israel.  We celebrated Israel's Independency Day in BBYO; but I never really knew the history of what lead to that day, or the more recent history of Israel for that matter.  All I really remember during my youth is hearing "no land for peace."

So today I started my study of Israel.  I am starting with the history.  Years ago, in the Melton Adult Education Course, I did have a history class but the pace was too fast for me as I had such little knowledge of both biblical events and of history in general.  As a math and science kid, history was never interesting to me.

Recently, I found a 20th Israel Anniversary publication by the United Press International while cleaning out my mother's basement.  I thought, in honor of Israel's 65th Anniversary, I would start with that magazine.  There was a good review of the events prior to 1948 and I was able to get a good sense of the time line and events from 2000 BCE on.  So often, I hear of the successes of the Jewish leaders, both accomplishments and defeats of my ancestors, and the historical events of Israel; but I have never been able to relate them to a span of time.  Putting the events, key players and subsequent changes in Israel on a time line helped me put it all together. 

The articles I have read so far discussed the first twenty years of Israel's history and were written from the perspective of the time of publication - 1968.  It was interesting to read opinions contrasting the dynamic and determined Jews of "present day" Israel and their vs. the ghetto Jews of the past.   I came to understand the reasons and drive for both the diaspora and return or immigration of Jews to Israel.   It was fascinating to learn that there were 80,000 Jews in Israel in 1914, 650,000 in 1948 and 2.5 million Jews in Israel in 1968.  I believe the current Jewish population in Israel is close to 6 million.  I gained a better understanding of Zionism and the role that the world Jewry has played over those early years which has lead me to understand the importance and drive of organizations such as the JUF and the Jewish Federation. 

I had mixed feelings when reading about the conflicts that the Jewish people have had with the Arab nations throughout time.  Up until now, my impression of the Arab-Israeli conflict has been based on a vague sense that the Arabs, for whatever their own religious reasons, felt that Palestine belonged to them just as Jews feel that Israel belonged to them.  My impressions were never based on history or facts.   I was surprised to learn that the Palestine Arabs first accepted Jewish immigration, dismayed  to learn there were 750,000 displaced Arabs as a result of the Independence War and 1.5 million refugees in 1968; and shocked to see the word "terrorism" surface in the 1950's. 

I had not previously know about the wars prior to the Six Day War.  I did not know that the Arab nations attacked Israel on the early morning hours after the State of Israel was declared.  I  learned the role the British, the Soviet Union and the US had in the months leading up to and following the Six Day war.   While these historical events may be taken for granted by many Jewish people, I have developed an appreciation of Israel and all she had been through to arrive at that time in history.  But what really impressed me was the determination and drive that must have lead to the success of  the Six Day War.  Israel took on multiple nations and in the end their death toll was less than 2% of the total death toll.  The strength and will of the Jewish people was something that could not be denied. 

Its interesting to reflect on the comments made in this publication from 1968.  "Today, as Israel looks to the future it still faces enormous problems.  Foremost is the need to develop a functioning economy no longer deeply dependent on foreign aid and the gifts of world Jewry....'Our political and economic problems would seem vastly different, ' says Prime Minister Levi Eshkol,  'if we were 4 million Jews in Israel instead of 2.5 million.'"  I don't know enough about present day Israel to comment on this but I think it would be a fascinating starting point to learn about and discuss Israel from 1968 to present.

Land is important of course, but obviously peace has been a more important goal.   The comments made regarding the Six Day War were that Israel had won the war but had not won peace.  The talks at the time declared that the lands concurred in 1967 would not be released without peace.  In 1968,  Prime Minister Eshkol was quoted as saying, "Ah my friends, if we have peace, there is so much we can do.  There is land, there is water.  We will settle the refugee problem.  We have come back to stay.  This is our Middle East as much as theirs.  Israel wants peace and needs peace:  I am convinced the Arabs do too.  We have seem what can be done in Israel with the necessary will.  If there is peace, the whole Middle East will flourish."  Once again, what a great starting point for a discussion in the present day.