Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Message to Diaspora Communities
58th Israel Independence Day
Jerusalem
May 2006
It gives me great pleasure to send you warm greetings on the occasion of the 58th Yom Ha'atzmaut of the State of Israel.
Israel has experienced many challenges and triumphs in its 58 years of existence. Born out of the ashes of the Holocaust, a nation of refugees, Israel has developed into a modern and vibrant country, and has emerged as a world leader in the fields of technology, medicine and science.
I am committed to dedicating my tenure as Prime Minister to the implementation of my vision for a better future for ourselves and for our children - a future of increased personal security, justice and hope, a future in which the State of Israel exemplifies the time-honored values of the Jewish people - unity, tolerance and mutual respect. We must ensure the future of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, with Jerusalem as its united and undivided capital. We will exhaust every possibility to determine the final borders of the State of Israel, so that we can live in peace with our neighbors.
You, our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, are our full partners in realizing this dream. Your devotion to the State of Israel is a source of strength and pride for us, and we rely on your support. That is why Jewish-Zionist education is so crucial to deepening Jewish continuity and identification, and why we must continue to encourage aliyah, as well as promote progams such as Birthright and MASA.
As we embark on this new chapter in our history, we must remain united. Our future, and the future of the Jewish people, rests on our shoulders, and we will face it, together, with determination, courage and optimism.
Chag Sameach.
Sincerely,
Ehud Olmert