“This country was not born from the sea. It was established thanks to men and women who, in the face of an impossible reality, managed to achieve great things," Speaker of the Knesset MK Yuli-Yoel Edelstein (Likud) said Wednesday evening as he delivered the main speech at the state ceremony on Jerusalem's Mount Herzl which officially ended the Day of Remembrance for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism and kicked off the State of Israel's 71st Independence Day celebrations.
“Did they have superpowers? No! Were they exceptional geniuses? Also, No! But the believed they could! Even on days when their hoe hit the ground but nothing came out, they believed they could. Even on days when they were surrounded by enemies - greater in number, better armed, stronger - they believed they could. Had they hesitated, had they left their work for others, had they not struck the rock more! And more! And more, until water came out of it, the State of Israel would not have been created."
Speaker Edelstein dedicated his speech to the residents of communities near the Gaza border and all of southern Israel, "who prove, with persistence and dedication, that the love of the land is not just a motto whose time has passed, but a way of life."
Israel's 71st Independence Day, Speaker Edelstein said in his speech, “is a good time to open old photo albums and remember – who are we? Where did we come from? What is our story? Some nations live in vast lands; some were blessed with many natural resources; and others – with a population of hundreds of millions. And what do we have? We have a story."
“A story of a nation of slaves which was unshackled and became free, and brought the entire world a new hope for freedom, a new message of peace, and a new mission of justice. Despite being scattered all over the world, this nation gathered in one land, small and spectacular, and pledged that its children would be raised on this land, and its dreams would be realized on this land, and it would live only in this land – whatever happens. This is our story! A rebellious, ambitious, spirited nation which has one motto: against all odds."
“We were beaten down, and we rose up; we [suffered] pogroms, and continued onward; we were exiled and, against all odds, always returned to the homeland."
“Against all odds, we realized the prophecy of Jeremiah: 'Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria.' Against all odds, we realized the prophecy of Zechariah: 'Old men and old women shall against sit in the streets of Jerusalem.'"
“On this Independence Day, the founders of the State call on you too, [children and teenagers} – believe! Believe in your hope! Believe in your spirit! Believe that you are part of a wonderful story which began here, in this land, against all odds. And the continuation of the story depends on us never asking for whom the torches gleam. For you (male tense)! For you (female tense)! For all of us! Happy Independence Day, Israel!"
