Stamps Show Israel's Fight for Independence April 2002 1 | 2 | 3 | NEXT With the Jewish state of Israel under siege and its very survival an uncertainty, it is important to reflect on the nation's creation, struggle to survive and importance to Jews. Israel's Declaration of Independence, signed on May 14, 1948, included several themes which reflected its history to that date -- a homeland for Jewish immigrants, resulting in economic development and a hope for peace despite the violence and war it had experienced. These themes have continued on throughout its existence and can be seen on its stamps. The first stamp to note immigration to the new state was issued in April 1950 (#34) and depicted ships on the way to Israel and referred to the in gathering of exiles. In July of that year Israel passed the Law of Return which declared that any Jew in the world had the right to settle in Israel. By September of that year Operation Magic Carpet had transported almost 50,000 Jews from Yemen. Operation Ezra and Nehemia brought 120,000 Jews from Iraq. Israel's population doubled in its first 40 months. A "magic carpet" can be seen on #178 issued in 1960 (along with #179 depicting resettlement) to mark World Refugee Year. The 20th anniversaries of those efforts were commemorated in 1970 with the issuance of a stamp in January (#407) and one in September (#424). The theme of immigration to the state of Israel was noted earlier, in 1968, with the issue of #362-3 marking the 20th anniversary of Israel's independence. In March 1972 Israel issued a stamp which proclaimed "Let My People Go" in Russian, as well as in Hebrew, Arabic and English; the tab referred to the absorption of immigrants (#487). Major migrations from the former Soviet Union (more than 800,000) and dramatic rescues of almost 50,000 Ethiopian Jews in 1984-85 (Operation Moses) and 1991 (Operation Solomon) have contributed to Israel's growth. Similarly, the migration of almost 350,000 Jews from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and 70,000 from Egypt, Sudan and Libya was noted by a stamp issued in January 1973 (#508). The absorption of new immigrants was symbolically portrayed on a stamp issued in September 1990 (#1065) depicting a newcomer being incorporated and completing a Jewish star formed by others. The successful struggle for Israel's survival had started even before the new state was declared. (The battle in Jerusalem had prevented some of the "founding fathers" reaching Tel Aviv to sign the Declaration of Independence). Egypt reported its troops, crossed the border at midnight of Israel's Independence Day and reached Gaza within hours. Egypt noted this attack with a release of a stamp just one month later on June 15 (see #271). Its planes also bombed Tel Aviv on May 15. The Military Stamp 1 | 2 | 3 | NEXT © 2002, J-Stamps/Murray Frost. All Rights Reserved. froststamps@yahoo.com