PIONEERS IN CANAAN (diblisch historien: sebald behem von nOrenburg. ' FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN. MDXXXlIl) the NEW STATE OF ISRAEL by GERALD DE GAURY DEREK VERSCHOYLE THIRTEEN. PARK PLACE • ST. JAMES’S LONDON S.W.i Acknowledgments I AM indebted to the publications of the United Nations Organization covering Israel, in particular the Final Report of the United Nations Economic Survey Mission for the Middle, Edst, published in New York in 1949, and the Review (f Econorutc Conditions in the Middle East, New York, 1951 ; to the numerous publications of the Israel Government Press Office; to many other Israel publications, including the Israel Tear Book for 1950-51, issued by Israel Publications in Tel Aviv, and the books of Gerhard Muenzner. I received assistance, which I gratefully acknowledge, from many Israel Government officials, in particular from members of the Legation in London and the staff of the Research Section of the Government Press Office in Tel Aviv. Members of the staff of the General Federation of Labour, in Israel and at the London office, also aided me. I am particularly grateful to Mrs. Nasmyth of the staff of The Economist, for generous assistance in the chapter on Finance and Economics. Some of the photographs are my own, those between pages 24 and 25 were provided by Mr. Leslie Daiken, and the majority were kindly furnished by the Press Office of the Israel Government service in Tel Aviv. For permission to reproduce the drawing which appears as Frontispiece, I am indebted to the Trustees of the British Museum. G. DE G. .50 March ; 12 CONTENTS Acknowledgments page 5 Introduction 1 1. Area, Geography, Population Characteristics : Immi- gration Policy and Problems 21 2. The Constitution: The President and the Prime Minister’s Office 39 3. The Political System of Israel: Policies and Personali- ties 69 4. The Ministry of the Interior: Local Government and Police 98 5. Justice : Basis of Israel Law. Organization of Civil Legal System and of Religious Courts 1 1 6. Religion: The State of Religion; Christian and Muslim Communities, 123 7. Education and Health : Organization of Educational for System ; Facilities Religious and Ethnic Minorities Social Security 140 8. Finance and Economics 154 9. Foreign Policy: Israel’s Relations with her Neigh- bours and the Great Powers 173 10. Defence and System of Training 180 11. Industry, Resources and Science: The Institute of Science, Rehovoth 187 12. Agriculture, Fisheries, Irrigation and Forestry 203 13. Communications: Railways, Road, Shipping, Air, Postal and Wireless 223 14. The Press, Arts and Architecture 235 Bibliography 246 Glossary 251 Index 254 2 'ILLUSTRATIONS Pioneers in Canaan Frontispiece Plate I. A Jewish Girl from Bokhara A Yemeni Girl II. An Arab Agriculturist An Old Jerusalemite Between A Mechanic from the Levant ’ pages and 25 III. A New Citizen from North Africa IV. An Orthodox Youth from Eastern Europe A Yemeni on National Service V. President Weizmann Casts his Vote Facing page 32 Hoarding Site—Election and Concert Posters 32 VI Moshc Sharett 33 David Ben-Gurion 33 VII Dr. Chaim Weizmann 48 VIII. A Street Scene in Nazareth 49 The Walls of Old Jerusalem from the Israel Frontier 49 IX. A Sabra Youth 80 X. Tel Mond Garden 81 Yemenite Nursery Teacher 81 XI. Landscape in the Galilee District 96 XII. Morning Prayers in a Settlement 97 Christmas in a Russian Orthodox Church 97 XIII. Herzilya Beach 1 1 Sports Assembly Ground 112 3 illustrations. PlaU ^my uid Naval Officer! aboikrd an Israel ^ Vessel during Manoeuvres Facing page 1 1 A Fishing Station on the Sea of Galilee 1 13 XV. Chart of Histadruth Institutions 128 XVI. A Frontier Patrol '129 Young Settlers View their Future Home at Huleh 129 XVII. Arabs Learning New Farming Technique 192 XVIII. Chart of Agricultural Plan 193 XIX. Jews from Hadhramaut Arrive at Lydda Airport 208 The Israel Merchant Navy, s.s. Kedmali (Shoham Line) 208 XX. In a Eabbutz 209 Pioneer’s Workbench 209 XXL Chart of Communications 224 XXII. Chart of Irrigation 225 XXIII. Absalom’s Tomb outside Old City Walls, Jerusalem 240 XXIV. The Y.M.C.A. Building, Jerusalem 241 Introduction any books have been published about Israel and the Jewish National Home. Some are for it, some against M it; nearly all are spirited, or even passionate in praise or denunciation. Most of them have as a theme some particular aspect. What is the truth about the country to which, in spite of all opposition, over a million Jews have moved in a few years, and will the State of Israel last? So far it has not been very easy to ascertain. War with the Arabs followed immediately upon the State’s creation on 14th May, 1948, and war conditions continued on and off for some fourteen months. The next eighteen months were a time for recovery and too soon to judge how the State was shaping. By the third year of its existence, in the summer of 1951, many decisions had been taken by the Government, basic laws had been passed by its Parliament and its form was becoming clear. Having lived for many years in the Arab Middle East, I considered that it would be of most unusual interest to me to see the new Israel, the land that hitherto I had known only as part of Palestine, that had been the subject of many bitter arguments, the scene of so much fighting. Now that the new State existed, my object in visiting it was to record all that I could about it, as accurately as possible, in a factual way, avoiding controversial politics of the past and that aftermath of the war, the Arab refugee problem. No sooner had I landed than I began to see about me indications of another struggle in being. The contest there now is not with the Arabs, but against Nature and hazardous economic conditions. The difficulties with which the Israelis are faced are in one way self-imposed, and the Jews may be criticized for some of their past actions, but that docs not reduce the interest that their present fight arouses at close iarters. Most spectators near to such a scene, whatever Scir political views, will, I think, find that applause is wrung from them. In the last four years the population has been doubled by • immigration. No limit was set, for the country was deliberately laid open to all Jews from all over the world. Full immigra- tion is a principle by which the greatest store is set, one which II unda^ str€» may be mellBed b^ temporary regula- tions, Btit^|rUl}^not ‘bis annulled, however exacting the result. Accordingly^^dealistic youths, penniless rtfugees, prosperous men and women with a spiritual urge, flock into the county, most of them aware that at the best only a life of self-denial and hard work will be their lot and at the worst there,will be defeat for all. Israel is a great camp of forthright pionbers. it is The country is very small, and over half of desert. : Its known resources are limited. Its fpod is insufficient ^oir its inhabitants. The need for capital is great and not nearly enough has' been available for the Israel purposes. There is no true backing for the currency. It is physically nearly impossible 'to build enough houses or shelters for the annual influx of immigrants before the following winter overtakes ‘‘ them. In such circumstances a stranger will ask, How is it possible for the State to continue without expansion?’’ I believe that the material in this book goes to show that it is feasible. The land and its resources are to be scientifically exploited to the utmost extent possible. Israel has. recently secured financial help from foreign governments, foreign capital for investment in industrial enterprises is invited on favourable terms. Other factors aid the task of development. The barren hillsides will support forests. Most of the desert is potentially fertile, and water has been found in quantity that seems nearly sufficient. Over 38% of the population is under nineteen years of age, and youth is adaptable. Considering the general situation in which the inhabitants arc living there is little discontent. Wealth is evenly distributed and the standard of social security ^nd welfare is higher than in neighbouring countries. Intellectual and cultural activity is great, and fully occupies the short leisure hours of the workers; and the missionary zeal of the people is strong. Thus the whole tendency of thought is inward rather than outwards. Pride is the sin rather than envy. I never heard one word of envy, except for the great oil royalties of one of the smaller Persian Gull sheikhdoms. “ How very unfair,” said a leading Israeli to me—and even then it was I who had initiated the conversa- tion that unwittingly brought us to that subject. Israel is planning at present for the development and defence of what she has. It would be unwise to risk all that she has achieved for the sake of the neighbouring valleys of Lebanon and Syria or the gullies and downs of Jordan, when she has. undeveloped land that can be equally or moic fertile under her is hand ; and to shirk labour not a Jewish characteristic. • ' • all Gompliite faiiurv' u u^i^fkable. ' For wh|^^oi;|l<j[ the Jewish inhabitants m, 'and how? At the the outer world would be obliged to aid them or settle them elsewhere. So the State will, I believe, continue, in spite of all its present troubles, an unequalled example, unless it be by the' early dayfrof the settlers in America, of the ability ofman to oVta’come the seemingly impossible in colonization.