Why is Israel so important?

Why Israel? The modern State of Israel was established as the homeland of the Jewish people in 1948. Based on the basic tenet of Zionism-that Jews must have their own country to survive-Israel has served as a refuge for Jews the world over and has been built on the values of freedom and democracy, fulfilling both a political and historic imperative. The Land of Israel had not been an independent political entity for the previous 2,000 years, and Jews suffered nearly two millennia of exile and persecution. Israel's creation allowed the Jewish people to control their own destiny in a sovereign state on the very land where ancient Jews had once established a great nation and built a thriving civilization. Click here to view the Map History of Israel's Borders. Dear Friend of Israel, Why is Israel so important? At some point or another, this question has likely been asked of you as a pro-Israel supporter. While we all may have varying ties to Israel, there are common fundamental reasons why modern Israel's existence today is so important. An Idea to Build a New Nation in an ancient land. Most Jews were dispersed following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., although Jews have maintained a presence in the Land of Israel for more than 3,000 years. Their yearning to return spawned Zionism-the idea that a Jewish state could be re-established in the historic Land of Israel. Read more... The Holocaust: The Urgent Need for a Jewish State. The murder of 6 million Jews demonstrated the vital need for a Jewish refuge. In 1947, the U.N. voted to partition Mandatory Palestine into two states-one Arab and one Jewish. The Jews in Palestine immediately accepted. The Arabs rejected the plan, and five Arab armies invaded Israel. Read more... A Home for Immigrants from Around the World. Israel has also faced the task of forging a unified nation from an incredibly diverse range of immigrants. Since its founding, the tiny state has absorbed millions of immigrants from more than 100 countries, including Jews from Europe, Ethiopia and those forced to flee from Arab countries. Read more... A National Ethos: Repairing the World. For Israel, it is not enough to serve as a safe haven for world Jewry. Israel has always strived to share its blessings with other countries that are less fortunate. Israel's government and people constantly strive to fulfill the principles of freedom, justice and peace. Read more... A mere 60 years after its establishment, Israel has emerged as a thriving democracy, a global leader in the areas of technology, agriculture and medicine and one of the staunchest allies of the United States. Read more about the importance of the Jewish State. Thank You, Jonathan E. Missner Director of National Affairs and Development

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