THE PRESIDENT

Greetings from the President of the State of Israel to the Jewish
Communities in the Diaspora on the occasion of Israel's 64th Independence
Day

Dear Friends,

I am proud to celebrate Israel's 64th Independence Day with you all. It is
not only a day of celebration, but also one to reflect upon and realize that
the reality we have built is much more than the vision we once dreamed.

The remarkable achievements we have made in six decades are evidence of an
unyielding spirit which defines the Jewish people, We returned to our
homeland, rich in history, yet scarce in land, meager in natural resources.
We had no choice but to invest in our greatest asset our people. And we did,
together with you. Israel grew tenfold in population, fifty-fold in gross
domestic product. We absorbed millions of Jews from around the world. We
built beautiful towns and prosperous cities, the new alongside the old, the
past next to the future. We have built an extraordinary country, due to our
extraordinary people. Today, we can proudly look upon our thriving economy,
innovation serves as Israel's heartbeat, and creativity runs through our
veins.

Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day, is also a time to remember those who
defended and served our country, many of whom sacrificed their Jives for our
young state. Today, Israel is still on the unwavering quest for peace and we
will never abandon our thirst to live in harmony with our neighbors. The
ideals on which Israel's father David Ben Gurion founded our nation are the
very same ideals we live by today, and reflect the principles of justice and
freedom instilled by our prophets.

It is with great joy that 1 celebrate with you our modern day miracle, the
State of Israel. Our mutual unwavering commitment to each other is crucial.
The young generation's commitment to our state is essential as our shared
tomorrow will be defined by innovation. As partners of our nation, your
ability to secure a future defined by scientific development and discoveries
is vital to our shared mission.

My friends, the challenges of our time are demanding. Today, together, let
us wave the flags for the future of Israel, as an independent and democratic
state. Let us wave the flags of peace, security and brotherhood.

Shimon Peres