Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-20
Her Leaders
See Peril
And Promise
BY WEBB MCKINLEY
Associated Press stan Writer

VLANO0nAtkskAs Aoi utAs WIN n
solemn session OF Parliament.
Israel starts Tuesday on a cele-
bration OF It's 10th anniversary
year. Joined by Jewry In most OF
the free world. It's people will
commemorate ISrael's beleaguered
beginning and its still unfinished
race for maturity amid an Arab
world sworn TO its destruction.
The modern state OF Israel was
born at pm. on May II, l948
10 years ago by the Hebrew
calendar. which is shorter than
the GreRorianl. David Ben
Gurion, then as now It's leader.
arose In Tel Aviv'S art museum
and read before 1856 persons a
l,027-word proclamation Of inde-
pendence. II was the fulfillment
Of Jewish yearning. as old as the
Bible, for the return TO Zion.
History has recorded how Israel
fought and pushed back the
Arabs. 1t is now recording how
Mr.. Ben-Gurion and his people,
backed by Unprecedented aid
from abroad, have in the past
10 years remade the face OF their
land.
In country the size of New
Jersey. they have taken in, and
10 a large extent inteerated. more
than 9l5.000 Jews from abroad.
and increased their population TO
100000. They have more than
tripled production. and planted
new communities in the desert
and made them grow. In the face
Of an Arab boycott they have
reached out into world markets
and multiplied exports by five.
A Look Aheod
With its 10th anniversary year.
q proud Israel aims to show the
world and its own people all these
achievements, and more. But at
the same time Israels leaders are
looking ahead to the next decade.
one holding peril as well as
promise.
They know that Israel remains
bOrdered by enemies. and that
while this enmity exists the Mid
die East will remain in crisis But
they are confident men. Aware
of the risk of prophecy. they still
believe the promise outweighs
the peril.
Summed up. then, here are the
views OF Israeli leaders for the
next 10 years:
FOREIGN RELATIONSHIPS
may come to Israel and the Arabs
Eventually. the Arabs must rec
ognize that Israel is here to stay.
outside powers could hasten this
by guaranteeing Israels borders
IMMIGRATION-The flow will
lessen, unless Russia opens the
fioodgates for the Jews Israel
plans on absorbing about half
million more immigrants by 1868
ECONOMY-Israel can become
self-sufficient in 10 years or less.
granted external good fortune and
domestic self-control in matters
OF wages and consumption. The
country is engaged in a race TO
expand production before impor-
tant sources OF outside revenue
run dry.
To the taxi driver in divided
Jerusalem or farmer in a COM
munal "kibbutZ' at Dan. these
three problems are very real.
Enmity Of the Arabs, for instance.
is something each must live with.
For 10 years the taxi driver has
looked across a narrow valley into
Jordan's old Jerusalem. but he
dare not enter there. Chances
are the farmer has experienced at
least one border incident with the
Syrians. Yet, asked what will
happen in the future, each is apt
to shrug and reply: Il should
be a prophet"
Official Optimism
Israel's policy makers, however.
are more optimistic. Prime Min
lister Ben-Gurion says: If the
international situation improves,
then in the next decade there may
be peace between Israel and the
Arabs" A high-ranking official
in the foreign ministry says
There are Arab leaders now who
would sit down and talk with us,
If they dared
But looming over these hopes
is the tragic shadow OF nearly a
million Arab refugees from Pale