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ritory of Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the Provisional Government
thereof. The United States recognizes the Provisional Government as the de facto authority
of the new State of Israel."
We hope that other countries in the east and the west will likewise not delay their
recognition of the State of Israel and of its Provisional Government. To this end
we are now in contact with all the member states of the UN, as well as with the UN
organization itself.
But let us not delude ourselves into thinking that once official recognition has been
obtained, our path will be a smooth one. A thorny road awaits us. It will not be short,
nor will it be easy. The day after the establishment of the state, Tel Aviv was bombarded
by Egyptian planes. One of these planes was shot down by our cannons. A pilot has been
taken captive, and the plane has been added to the young Jewish air force. We are also
hearing of invasions from the north, from the east, and from the south by regular armies
of the neighboring Arab states. Difficult and dangerous trials await us. The Provisional
Government has already appealed to the UN Security Council in protest against these
gross acts of aggression by members of the UN and by an ally of England – Trans-Jordan.
It is difficult to imagine that the UN will remain silent in the face of these malicious
attacks, which violate peace, international law, and UN states. However, we must be able
to repeat to ourselves, over and over, that first and foremost we must rely on our own
strength.
The job of each one of us, and of every municipal unit in the cities and in the villages,
is to adopt appropriate precautionary measures, such as the building of shelters, digging
of trenches, and the like. But most of all we must increase and magnify the striking power
of Israel's army, so as to repel strongly any attack, and to annihilate enemy forces wherever
they may be.
Lastly, we must prepare to receive en masse our exiled and forsaken brethren – those in
Cyprus, in the camps in Germany and Austria, as well as exiles from all other countries,
who will now stream proudly to their liberated land. We will receive them with fraternal
love and ensure their acclimatization in the homeland. The State of Israel calls upon each
one of us to fulfill his duty with faith, with defense, with building, with absorption of
immigrants. Only through fulfillment of our duty will we be worthy of this hour."
David Ben-Gurion, BaMa'arakha, vol. V, Ayanot publishers 5715, pp. 312-314
After the Declaration 173
thereof. The United States recognizes the Provisional Government as the de facto authority
of the new State of Israel."
We hope that other countries in the east and the west will likewise not delay their
recognition of the State of Israel and of its Provisional Government. To this end
we are now in contact with all the member states of the UN, as well as with the UN
organization itself.
But let us not delude ourselves into thinking that once official recognition has been
obtained, our path will be a smooth one. A thorny road awaits us. It will not be short,
nor will it be easy. The day after the establishment of the state, Tel Aviv was bombarded
by Egyptian planes. One of these planes was shot down by our cannons. A pilot has been
taken captive, and the plane has been added to the young Jewish air force. We are also
hearing of invasions from the north, from the east, and from the south by regular armies
of the neighboring Arab states. Difficult and dangerous trials await us. The Provisional
Government has already appealed to the UN Security Council in protest against these
gross acts of aggression by members of the UN and by an ally of England – Trans-Jordan.
It is difficult to imagine that the UN will remain silent in the face of these malicious
attacks, which violate peace, international law, and UN states. However, we must be able
to repeat to ourselves, over and over, that first and foremost we must rely on our own
strength.
The job of each one of us, and of every municipal unit in the cities and in the villages,
is to adopt appropriate precautionary measures, such as the building of shelters, digging
of trenches, and the like. But most of all we must increase and magnify the striking power
of Israel's army, so as to repel strongly any attack, and to annihilate enemy forces wherever
they may be.
Lastly, we must prepare to receive en masse our exiled and forsaken brethren – those in
Cyprus, in the camps in Germany and Austria, as well as exiles from all other countries,
who will now stream proudly to their liberated land. We will receive them with fraternal
love and ensure their acclimatization in the homeland. The State of Israel calls upon each
one of us to fulfill his duty with faith, with defense, with building, with absorption of
immigrants. Only through fulfillment of our duty will we be worthy of this hour."
David Ben-Gurion, BaMa'arakha, vol. V, Ayanot publishers 5715, pp. 312-314
After the Declaration 173
