Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
Seventy years ago, on May 14th, 1948, the State of Israel was established. Eleven minutes later, the United States became the first nation to recognize its sovereignty. In spite of strong opposition within his inner circle even up to the last minute, President Truman boldly made the decision to support the new nation and declared so through his press secretary with the following statement:
“This government has been informed that a Jewish state has been proclaimed in Palestine, and recognition has been requested by the provisional Government thereof. The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new state of Israel.”
Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, recalls a meeting he had with President Truman years later 1961:
“I told him that as a foreigner I could not judge what would be his place in American history; but his helpfulness to us, his constant sympathy with our aims in Israel, his courageous decision to recognize our new state so quickly and his steadfast support since then had given him an immortal place in Jewish history. As I said that, tears suddenly sprang to his eyes. And his eyes were still wet when he bade me goodbye. I had rarely seen anyone so moved.”
President Truman boldly and wisely recognized Israel at the earliest opportunity in 1948. He did so with a sense of passion and purpose that benefited Israel, but that undoubtedly also recognized that it benefited the United States as well. PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD BOLDLY SUPPORT ISRAEL TODAY. Through our steadfast support to them, we will be blessed.
