In Independence Day Speech, Peres Warns Israel’s Enemies
Israeli President Shimon Peres offered a warning to Israel’s enemies on the occasion of Israeli Independence Day.
“To those who are now threatening Israel I say: Don’t repeat the mistakes of your predecessors,” Peres said in a speech at an annual ceremony bestowing honors on 120 soldiers for Yom Ha’atzmaut. “You threaten out of a hunger for conquest. We defend out of an aspiration for peace. That wars, which Israel did not initiate, brought it unexpected gains, causing the aggressors unexpected losses.”
The ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem was part of Israel’s celebration of its 64th birthday on Thursday. To mark the day, the Israel Air Force put on an air show in the skies over the country while an estimated 1.5 million people were expected to flock to Israel’s parks and recreation areas for hikes and barbeques. Many Israel Defense Forces bases were also open to the general public.
Parks and bases reportedly were so overrun that by 11 a.m. Thursday police asked the public to stop coming.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
