Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-05
BY WILLIAM r. FRYE
CoutributinR Writer


LIBERALS, Israel.-Here on the
Shores Of the Sea of Galilee-
surely one of the most beautiful
lakes in the world-a visitor to
Israel can stop and take stock of
his impressions.
Perhaps the most vivid single
impression to be gained from
travelling the length and breadth
Of this land is of the nearness. the
imminence, the continuity of his
tory.
Everything conspires to wipe
away time. Look north. There on
q graceful hilltop just an arms
reach away is the spot where Jesus
delivered the Sermon on the
Mount.
Beyond the next village is
Capernaum, where the Master
said to the man with the withered
hand, Stretch forth thy hand;
to the centurion whose servant
was sick, Go thy way: and as
thou hast believed, so be it done
unto thee; and to Jarius' daugh-
ter, who was dead. 'Damsel, I
say unto thee, arise"
Look south and a bit west.
From a far corner of that noun
tain range Moses looked down on
the Promised Land. He had jour-
neyed 40 years to find that land,
but was destined never to enter it.
History Toward the South
Turn the pages of history: look
south and west. There where the
hills Of Galilee are yelled in blue
haze is the mountain pass through
which Salah al-Din (Saladin)
marched in 1887 on his way to
the Battle of Hittin, driving the
Crusaders out of the Holy Land.
On the other side Of that pass,
In Jordan, the Arabs today point
to it with pride and say they, too,
will drive the invader" from
Palestine, even if it takes them
100 years. (The Crusaders ruled
the Holy Land 88 years, from 1899
to 1879
But on this side Of the noun
tain there is no reason to believe
the modern Caliphs Of Cairo,
Baghdad, or Amman can repeat
the triumph of their 18th century
forebear. The analogy Of Moses
seems more apt than that Of
Salah al-Din.
Perhaps this is the second most
vivid impression to be gained from
a visit to this dynamic new coun-
try. Israel is here to stay. The
Arabs are miscalculating badly If
they thjnk time is on their side.
As a Tourist Attraction
Here are still other impressions:
o American tourists, Christian as
well as Jewish, are missing an ex-
cellent bet If they fail to include
Israel in their plans. 1t is fas-
cinating, inspiring, often beautiful
land with excellent provision for
visitors.
Q Given a breakthrough in any
one Of several f1elds-atomic en-
ergy, the discrimination of water.
the Harvesting of solar energy, or
oil prospecting, for example
Israel could quickly become one
of the worlds most advanced
countries.
. The atmosphere in Israel is
that Of a pioneer community.
fighting against obstacles to hew
a good life out of the wilderness.
From this struggle comes an atti-
tude which an Israeli friend de-
Scribed as follows:
For centuries people have been
pushing US around. Now we don't
mind If others get pushed around
a little. Wen mellow-give US a
little time"
The tourist in Israel has a wide
choice Of diversions.
II he wants to relax on the
beach there are long. white
stretches north of Tel Aviv. with
modern resort hotels and SWIM
ming weather which begins in late
April and extends nearly until
Christmas.
If the visitor is interested in
Archaeology there Is q fabulous