"Today marks the 66th anniversary of when the Jewish people, after yearning to return to their spiritual and ancestral homeland for 2000 years, established the modern State of Israel," said Frank Dimant, CEO, B'nai Brith Canada. "Surrounded by enemies, Israel faced many challenges early on in its history. From wars fought to annihilate any Jewish presence in the Middle East and drive the Jewish people in to the sea, to hailstorms of rockets which are still lobbed almost daily from Gaza. Today we are grateful that the Jewish homeland is strong, free and democratic — but the situation remains difficult.
"Fatah's Alliance with terrorist organization Hamas threatens the safety and security of Israel. The new face of antisemitism, which cloaks itself under the guide of anti-zionism, says that the right to establish and maintain an independent national sovereign state is the prerogative of all nations, except, perhaps the oldest of all nations, the Jewish nation. In Europe, and especially now in Ukraine, Jews face an almost impossible situation as they are targeted in their communities, synagogues and homes.
"This is why, on Israel's 66th birthday, we are especially proud that after 2000 years we have finally returned to Zion and re-established our national homeland. For today, any Jew, anywhere in the world who faces persecution is no longer alone - they will always have a home and a family waiting for them in Israel."
