On May 14, 1948 (5 Yar of the year 5708), implementing Resolution 181 of the United Nations General Assembly of November 29, 1947, the then leader of the Zionist Movement, David Ben-Gurion, read the Declaration of Independence that gave rise to the birth of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel, whose official name would be the State of Israel.
During these years, the Israeli army has had to face at least five defensive wars against Arab and Muslim countries in the region which, despite being members of the UN, have systematically refused to accept that democratically defined resolution. In recent decades, it has also had to deal with the actions of Islamic terrorist groups that have no qualms about killing thousands of innocent civilians.
This situation led the Israeli government, several years ago, to declare a national day of remembrance for all those victims who fell in defense of the nation. Because it is closely linked to the very existence of the state, it is commemorated on the day immediately preceding Independence Day.
But even while living through this tragedy, Israel has achieved political, social, economic, and scientific development that is recognized throughout the world, with democracy as its fundamental pillar, while integrating millions of Jewish immigrants who, from all over the world and bringing with them diverse cultural backgrounds, have arrived constantly and continue to do so, along with the Arab, Muslim, Druze, and Christian minorities who inhabited the area before 1948.
ORT Israel has accompanied the vicissitudes of the state almost since the moment of its independence, and today it is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in an environment where teaching has always maintained a high internationally recognized standard. A large proportion of the country's technical jobs are filled by graduates from its secondary schools and tertiary technological institutes, including those specializing in cutting-edge global topics such as the development of nanotechnology.
On Independence Day, we hope that the entire country will continue on the path to growth, and we look forward to the deepening of peace with those countries with which it has been achieved, and its prompt extension to the rest of the region.